Tuesday, October 25, 2011
My Blog title
Some of you may be wondering why I titled my blog the way I did. Well when I was in college I was asked if I was a senior citizen at Wendy's once. At the time I was 21. This incident was heard about in my dorm and for my last 4 semesters of college I was known as "Grandpa." My last semester most of the incoming freshman didn't know my real name until half way through the semester. That is where the "Grandpa" part comes from in my blog title.
A Disciplined Life
The other night at church I was talking with a missionary at my church the I was challenged to live a "disciplined life." At the time our main topics of discipline were with money and time. Over the last couple of days I have been pondering what we talked about. I feel that being "disciplined" goes farther than just with money and time. For me it goes down to going to bed on time so I can get up in the morning and be agreeable in the morning. Also I think that how I keep my house says a lot about me. If I am not disciplined in keep my house clean, how disciplined will I be in the rest of my life.
I think too many of us look at the big things like money and time, but we pass by the little things. I know that as being a single male people expect that my house won't be clean. I say no I am going to do my best to be disciplined to keep my house clean. That means that I need to keep my sink clean, bathroom clean, and the general mess cleaned up. I believe a lot of the time being disciplined in the "little things" will lead up to being disciplined in the "big things" of our lives.
This whole idea of being disciplined came up in conversation as to why I am not going out on the mission field quicker. My reason is debt. It wouldn't be so bad, but I have a considerable amount of credit card debt. That was pointed out to me as not being disciplined. Not the debt, but not really having a plan on how to pay off the debt was the not being disciplined part. My plan right now with God's help is to start living a "Disciplined Life." Not just with my time and money, but with my whole life. So if you are reading this join me in living a "Disciplined Life" and also help keep me accountable.
I think too many of us look at the big things like money and time, but we pass by the little things. I know that as being a single male people expect that my house won't be clean. I say no I am going to do my best to be disciplined to keep my house clean. That means that I need to keep my sink clean, bathroom clean, and the general mess cleaned up. I believe a lot of the time being disciplined in the "little things" will lead up to being disciplined in the "big things" of our lives.
This whole idea of being disciplined came up in conversation as to why I am not going out on the mission field quicker. My reason is debt. It wouldn't be so bad, but I have a considerable amount of credit card debt. That was pointed out to me as not being disciplined. Not the debt, but not really having a plan on how to pay off the debt was the not being disciplined part. My plan right now with God's help is to start living a "Disciplined Life." Not just with my time and money, but with my whole life. So if you are reading this join me in living a "Disciplined Life" and also help keep me accountable.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Which Laws are Important
I will start off by saying this blog post will be very controversial. If you disagree with what I am saying I ask that any disagreements be giving with Scripture to prove me wrong. Thank you.
So I just got out of the shower where I do some of my best thinking. Something that has bothered me as of late is how we as Christians have a ranking system with the laws of our earthly rulers. For example we have not problem going over the speed limit, but we don't do anything "really bad" like murder, assault, rape, use drugs, etc.. In my opinion all of those laws have the same "weight" breaking the speed limit is just as bad as the "really bad" things. I say all this by pointing to Rom. 13:1-7 and I Peter 2:13-17. There is one exception to the rule of following the government and that is when we are asked to follow rules that go against what the Bible teaches. The next part that I will talk about will be the controversial section.
One hot topic that is abounding these days is "illegal immigration." Over the last couple of years there have been a few states who have come up with some very strong laws against "illegal immigration." I have concerns over these laws mostly, because we are dealing with peoples lives, lively hood, and families. In comparing what they did, by crossing our border illegally, to the "really bad" things what they did is very small. I would say most of them are trying to escape to a better life here in the United States. Most of them that I see are working in jobs that most Americans won't do which to me is a help to our economy. Now granted there are probably some who do use the system to their advantage. I would say as a Christian I have a higher calling to help them. Throughout scripture there is call to help those in need which most "illegal immigrants" are in need. Some scriptures to read Prov. 21:13; 28:27; 31:9; Matt 25:31-46. These scriptures give some instructions on how to treat the poor. From all this I would reason that what scripture says about treating those in need goes against what the government is telling me how to treat "illegal immigrants."
Along with all this I find it is easier for the American Christian to send money to another country to "help the poor", but when they come to us we turn a cold shoulder. To me a poor "illegal immigrant" is no different than a poor American Citizen. My understanding is the Bible says I need to treat them both the same way. Many of you probably see holes in my arguments and disagree with me. I would ask that if you have disagreements consider what I have said. Look through scripture to see what it says. Then share with me what you have to say. My hope through this blog post was to get you, the reader, to think, and to go dig in God's word and see what it says.
So I just got out of the shower where I do some of my best thinking. Something that has bothered me as of late is how we as Christians have a ranking system with the laws of our earthly rulers. For example we have not problem going over the speed limit, but we don't do anything "really bad" like murder, assault, rape, use drugs, etc.. In my opinion all of those laws have the same "weight" breaking the speed limit is just as bad as the "really bad" things. I say all this by pointing to Rom. 13:1-7 and I Peter 2:13-17. There is one exception to the rule of following the government and that is when we are asked to follow rules that go against what the Bible teaches. The next part that I will talk about will be the controversial section.
One hot topic that is abounding these days is "illegal immigration." Over the last couple of years there have been a few states who have come up with some very strong laws against "illegal immigration." I have concerns over these laws mostly, because we are dealing with peoples lives, lively hood, and families. In comparing what they did, by crossing our border illegally, to the "really bad" things what they did is very small. I would say most of them are trying to escape to a better life here in the United States. Most of them that I see are working in jobs that most Americans won't do which to me is a help to our economy. Now granted there are probably some who do use the system to their advantage. I would say as a Christian I have a higher calling to help them. Throughout scripture there is call to help those in need which most "illegal immigrants" are in need. Some scriptures to read Prov. 21:13; 28:27; 31:9; Matt 25:31-46. These scriptures give some instructions on how to treat the poor. From all this I would reason that what scripture says about treating those in need goes against what the government is telling me how to treat "illegal immigrants."
Along with all this I find it is easier for the American Christian to send money to another country to "help the poor", but when they come to us we turn a cold shoulder. To me a poor "illegal immigrant" is no different than a poor American Citizen. My understanding is the Bible says I need to treat them both the same way. Many of you probably see holes in my arguments and disagree with me. I would ask that if you have disagreements consider what I have said. Look through scripture to see what it says. Then share with me what you have to say. My hope through this blog post was to get you, the reader, to think, and to go dig in God's word and see what it says.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Funny Stories
Tonight I don't have anything profound to say, so I thought I would share a couple of funny stories from when I was in Alaska working on helicopters. Enjoy.
So the other day I was trying to clean some really sticky stuff off of the rotor head of a helicopter. I was standing on the very top of a 6 foot ladder. The ladder was a special ladder it happened to have only 3 legs. I was rubbing really hard trying to get this stuff off and all of the sudden I lost my balance. I had nothing to hold onto and the only thing I could do was flail my arms and fall slowly to the ground. Now just picture a 6'4" guy falling off of a 6' ladder in slow motion and you will picture me. In the process I put a nice big rip in my pants and I hit a very sensitive part of my body.
This next story made me laugh just reading it. I actually don't remember this story other than what I wrote in the email that summer.
This morning I was filling out my paperwork for a 100 hr. Insp. It takes a lot of practice and patience to fill out all this paperwork. It also takes good eyesight and steady hands to write really small. Anyways I was writing away and I might have been pushing a little too hard. All I know is the end of my pen shot off and the main part flew past my ear and bounced off the wall behind me. Seeing as I was half asleep when this happened I was slightly dumbfounded for a couple minutes. All I could do is stare at my pen wondering what happened. It took me about 5 minutes to find all the parts of my pen so I could finish my paperwork. I just thought that you folks might want a little laugh. If I had my pen aimed slightly more to the left the parts from my pen would have bounced off of my glasses which really would have made me jump.
I hope these 2 stories might have given you a little laugh.
So the other day I was trying to clean some really sticky stuff off of the rotor head of a helicopter. I was standing on the very top of a 6 foot ladder. The ladder was a special ladder it happened to have only 3 legs. I was rubbing really hard trying to get this stuff off and all of the sudden I lost my balance. I had nothing to hold onto and the only thing I could do was flail my arms and fall slowly to the ground. Now just picture a 6'4" guy falling off of a 6' ladder in slow motion and you will picture me. In the process I put a nice big rip in my pants and I hit a very sensitive part of my body.
This next story made me laugh just reading it. I actually don't remember this story other than what I wrote in the email that summer.
This morning I was filling out my paperwork for a 100 hr. Insp. It takes a lot of practice and patience to fill out all this paperwork. It also takes good eyesight and steady hands to write really small. Anyways I was writing away and I might have been pushing a little too hard. All I know is the end of my pen shot off and the main part flew past my ear and bounced off the wall behind me. Seeing as I was half asleep when this happened I was slightly dumbfounded for a couple minutes. All I could do is stare at my pen wondering what happened. It took me about 5 minutes to find all the parts of my pen so I could finish my paperwork. I just thought that you folks might want a little laugh. If I had my pen aimed slightly more to the left the parts from my pen would have bounced off of my glasses which really would have made me jump.
I hope these 2 stories might have given you a little laugh.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tis so sweet to Trust in Jesus, John 13:34
I thought instead of doing two posts I would combine them into one. Over the last week or so I have been hearing the Hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and there have been some lines in that song that have struck me. The verse was the memory verse for my 4th grade boys tonight. Both the hymn and the verse are simple, but yet so hard to follow.
The title of the hymn "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus" alone struck me. It is a simple title, but so hard to follow. There have been times in my life that trusting in Jesus did not seem sweet to me. It is a whole lot easier to sing the song and say that we trust in Jesus, but when it comes to actually living it out in our lives it is a whole different story. The next 2 lines "Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise" also struck me. They sound so simple, but to actually act them out in our lives so much harder. I find it hard to follow these simple words, because the world around would rather have me focus on myself and not Christ. With this in mind I need to make sure that I am continually in the Word.
The verso for my 4th graders was "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 Again simple words, but so hard to accomplish. What I find so hard is there are no exceptions. We are command to love one another no matter what. There is no room to say "but." I know in my life there has been times that I have wanted there to be exceptions to this command. More often than not I usually fail at following this command. It is so simple yet so hard to accomplish.
Looking back at these two things that sound simple, but yet so hard to follow and act out I have to remember that it is not through my own strength that I will be able to follow these commands and guidelines. This statement alone sounds simple, but again is hard to follow at times. At times where I find it hard I need to remember how big a God I serve. Just this morning when I got to work as I was walking to the door. I looked to my left and saw the sun rising and looked to my right and saw the moon setting. I just had to stop for a minute and remember how Big God really is. It seems like every time I make a statement I realize how simple it sounds, yet how hard it is to act out. This is a struggle that I will probably never understand.
The title of the hymn "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus" alone struck me. It is a simple title, but so hard to follow. There have been times in my life that trusting in Jesus did not seem sweet to me. It is a whole lot easier to sing the song and say that we trust in Jesus, but when it comes to actually living it out in our lives it is a whole different story. The next 2 lines "Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise" also struck me. They sound so simple, but to actually act them out in our lives so much harder. I find it hard to follow these simple words, because the world around would rather have me focus on myself and not Christ. With this in mind I need to make sure that I am continually in the Word.
The verso for my 4th graders was "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 Again simple words, but so hard to accomplish. What I find so hard is there are no exceptions. We are command to love one another no matter what. There is no room to say "but." I know in my life there has been times that I have wanted there to be exceptions to this command. More often than not I usually fail at following this command. It is so simple yet so hard to accomplish.
Looking back at these two things that sound simple, but yet so hard to follow and act out I have to remember that it is not through my own strength that I will be able to follow these commands and guidelines. This statement alone sounds simple, but again is hard to follow at times. At times where I find it hard I need to remember how big a God I serve. Just this morning when I got to work as I was walking to the door. I looked to my left and saw the sun rising and looked to my right and saw the moon setting. I just had to stop for a minute and remember how Big God really is. It seems like every time I make a statement I realize how simple it sounds, yet how hard it is to act out. This is a struggle that I will probably never understand.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
October 11, 2011
Well today's post is going to be short. I was going to look back to when I was up in Alaska and post an email describing my summer adventures, but I found something better. As I was looking back through my old emails I found one from May of 07. On May 1, 2007 I sent out an email to my friends and family telling them about my recommittment to Christ. Exactly 4 years later May 1, 2011 I was baptized. At the end of the email I asked those who received it to pray for me as I was going through a transition. That was quite a transition time. Thanks to all of those who prayed for me and are continuing to pray for me. Well that is all for tonight.
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 10, 2011
I hope that those of you who are reading my blog will enjoy it. I am going to use it as a place to reflect on what I have been reading most recently. It will also go along with my major decision that I will be making in the spring. For those who don't know I am considering whether to stay in Kansas, go back to Alaska as a missionary, or go overseas with some other mission organization. Well I hope that is enough foundation for now.
Over the last few weeks I have been reading "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot. I finished the book tonight and the ending was very powerful. What I found interesting was the impact that the deaths of these men had not just here in the US but all around the world. It was mentioned that a tribe of indians in Brazil heard of the death of these men and they fell on their knees in repentance before God, because they had not reached their neighboring tribe that did not know of Christ. I am hoping that by reading this book and others about men and women of faith I will follow their examples. At the same time I cannot forget to keep studying God's word.
I apologize for how random this post sounds. I am hoping as time goes on I will be able to gather my thoughts better. Also as you read these posts I hope that you would keep me in prayer as I am facing a tough decision here in the coming months.
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