Feeling Tired

Exodus 17:12 (New International Version)

¹² When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

Yea, I feel tired. Not physically, more spiritually speaking. Interesting that Moses looked to his close friends to help him when he felt tired.

Maybe I should do that... ;)


New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Thirty Days...

I've decided to read through Thirty Days at the Foot of the Cross as my 40th birthday comes up on May 22nd.

I feel like (and it should be somewhat obvious from the lack of postings here) that I've been somewhat lacking lately in my growth spiritually.

Anyway, Day 1 was all about unconditional love and how if we are imitating God, we should be becoming more like him in every way daily, especially when it comes to loving others...

Ephesians 5:1-2 (New International Version)

Ephesians 5

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Finding the right response

A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult. *

Rings way to close to home for me. How do you deal with these issues every day? Work is one of the places I constantly struggle with having the right response to something I disagree with, especially if it's the second or third time I've had to deal with the same issue.

Of course, King Solomon had an answer that explains why you never send that e-mail right after you wrote it; why you wait and ponder before you answer; why you think twice before making a brash comment in a meeting. Because you want to be prudent, and not be a fool.

Something I think I'll be working on the rest of my life.... :)

* Proverbs 12:16 ( New International Version )

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

friends -the good, the bad, and the ugly

He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

- Proverbs 17:9

New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

I was able to hang out with Peirre Newsome last night. He reminded me how important friends are, especially when it comes to keeping strong spiritually over the years. As the proverb says, it's so easy to ruin a relationship over little things, and yet it only takes one to decide to 'cover an offense'.

So many (including me at times) have gotten bitter because of both little and big offenses commited by different people, many of them old friends. I believe the only way to make it to the end with your friends at your side is to practice that proverb. No matter how great your friend is, at some point, they will commit a terrible offense against you - after all, they are only human. The question is, how will we respond... :)

as iron sharpens...

As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another. *

It was great to have my buddy Craig give me a call last night. It reminded me how easy it is to get off track and try to do everything on your own. A few friends of mine (including Craig) had a standing appointment on Thursday nights to meet at a coffee shop and discuss how things were going spiritually.

When we met, we usually had a great time, and it presented a great opportunity to get some discipling and input into our lives. The problem is, and has happened at other times in the past, out of site, out of mind, right? Over time, we started meeting less and less, until the point that I can't remember the last time I went over and had coffee with them.

God's word is full of warnings and encouragement about brothers helping each other spiritually, and yet it's our nature to want to do it all ourselves.



Thanks Craig, for the reminder - and I'll see you Thursday !

* Proverbs 27:17 New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

why bother...

Gideon happens to be my favorite character in the Bible. Partly because he's the one man against all odds, and partly because God uses him in incredible ways.

Over the last few years, with different changes going on in the kingdom, it seems that I've lost some of my fervor for my relationship with God. I was baptized into Christ in December of '86 in the Boston Church of Christ. I was in and out of college ministries and teen ministries through about '94, and then ended up in the married ministry in LA. After LA, we moved back to Colorado and were part of the Denver Church of Christ, and for the last 4 years we've been up here in Seattle.

As things stand now, I feel like I need to step up my relationship with God again, and maybe this is just another route to explore his word and my relationship with him.