Well first I must get something off my chest (gently clears throat, and stands with a proud stature...)
I'M DEBT FREE!!!!
For those of you who don't realize or understand just how excited I am about this, it all starts in the back seat of a car in a land far far away from here:
While traveling with some friends a few years back they were listening to a podcast I'd never heard before. Though I didn't even know who this was talking on the radio I found the topic quite interesting. Various people (from all over North America) would call this christian guy and ask him various financial questions and ask for his advise on how to handle their situations. Not thinking of it much at the time I listened, enjoyed and moved on with my life. (This all happened early march)
A couple of months later I was browsing through podcasts online (and I really don't remember all the circumstances of how this came about) but I notice a podcast called "The Dave Ramsey Show", "The truth about life and money". I signed up for this podcast and started listening with great intrigue.
This guy's message was simple, live on a budget, live within your mean, get out of debt and stay there, use cash because credit is slavery. The Scott version of that is "use your head people, it's common sense" and it is common sense that we all know is really not that common. This really started to hit home with me as I listened over the summer. I mean I had always been taught that debt could be a tool..."you're always going to have a car payment"..., and was fine as long as you managed your finances well and were responsible in repaying what you owed on time.
So this really hit me hard, the idea of living debt free, it made sense, why should I pay someone to borrow their money when I make my own? How can I save money if most of my pay cheque is going to to someone else before I even get it!? I decided after a much time of convincing to start my "debt snowball" and pay off my truck.
At the time I decided to do this I owed just under $22,000 dollars on my truck (my only debt), and here I sit today, three days into being completely debt free. I poured ever cent I had to spare into that thing thumbing my nose at low lobster prices, high gas prices and "the state of the economy".
I have hardly been away in the last 18 months (compared to what I used to do), I have hardly eaten at a restaurant, I cut back on how much gas I burnt, I cut my lifestyle back big time, and it was tough, very very tought! But I did it! I sit here today with a net worth of one truck, plus a few dollars to spare, I live on a budget, I write down where my money is going and I love it! Dave says "controll your money or the lack of it will always control you" and he's right.
So now I'm debt free, I have no intentions on ever owing money again on a debt ever, (with the acception of possibly a house, but I think maybe, depending on the circumstances I might try to pay cash for one of those someday). You all might think this is not possible and that I am crazy...not normal, but "normal in North America is broke".
Proverbs 22:7 say "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave"(NASB check your versions) and this has hit me hard. This is so true, if you owe money you are a slave to someone, don't get mad at me God said it. And in my experience I have come to know that there is nothing more true than this, the borrower is truly slave to the lender.
If you have never heard of Dave or listened to him you have to check this out (www.daveramsey.com). He's very opinionated and some of his rants are hard to swallow but I've come to realize he is a Godly man who through his experiences wants to help people break free from the way money enslaves them. This is a guy who truly cares about people, and isn't afraid to give you the blunt truth for your own good. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme, it's the truth from someone who really does want to see you win with money. We offer his 13 week seminar "Financial Peace University" at the church, I've been through it, it's fun, interesting, entertaining, and I don't know one person who has been through it that doesn't think the whole world needs to hear and get what this guy has to say.
You don't need to have a fantastic income to do this stuff (because I don't), you don't have to be good with money, you just have to be diligent, and decisive about your plan to beat debt and live within your means. It takes discipline (which I am not good at I'll admit), it's hard...but it can be done!
"You can't live without debt in today's world" you might say. Maybe you guys think I'm crazy and am totally out of touch with reality. And if you do, I don't care because did I mention...
I AM DEBT FREE BABY!!!!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, September 4, 2008
O Canada, and the Precious Poopsy Puzzle Piece...Oh and "Hold On For One More Day"
Hope this isn't too long and you guys read all of it.
So with the invasion of facebook polluting the psyche of our culture young and old alike, and with marriage taking over everyone's lives (ahem pastors) it may seem as though the blogging world has come to an end. I mean in all honesty we don't live in the same world we did just two or three years ago. So, having said all this, this post may just seem like the obligatory once-a-year post that plagues the blogging world as of late and just brings shame on the whole idea of blogging all together.
Having said that, I have wrestled with the idea of grabbing the defib-paddles and reviving my blog. However it is still up in the air so we will have to see...Now enough of the political blogging crap, lets get to the good stuff.
This summer was actually a pretty good one for me, in fact it was an excellent summer! I had the pleasure a couple weeks ago of watching the last hope of my social life disappear. You guessed it, I had the pleasure of standing up with my cousin Theron in his wedding. For those of you who don't know he finally married Duska (and can I say "It's about time!"). So you two now have an official Scott's Blog congratulations on tying the knot.
My summer started out a little undecided. I thought it was going to be another routine crappy summer, but boy was I ever wrong. Now for those of you who don't know, after lobster fishing I usually work on the weir in the summer time. So my summer started really the best way it could have this year. We took up lobster traps a week early and I got laid off from the weir...and what a blessing that has been! So, in need of work and with nothing to do I did what any good Dave Ramsey listener would do...I went on vacation!
The week after taking traps up (the week we were actually supposed to take traps up) a group from the church traveled to Silver Lake Wesleyan Camp in Ontario to do some work. And I think all of us would agree it was quite a treat. Though my week was plagued by the sight of those miserable picnic tables, we had a great time! Maybe it was stealing puzzle pieces from music camp, or squeegeeing sweat off Parker's back in the Grand Manan vs Staff basketball games, or a triumphant singing of the national anthem in the cafeteria, anyone on the camp ground that week I think would agree it was a week to remember. Plus I got to bring Clarkson home with me for a while!
Soon after returning from the Lake, I went to Beulah for the duration of "Beulah Week". It's the first time in many years I've been there for the whole week, and it was great. The speaking was amazing, the music was great, the company was...hmmmm...wonderful though questionable at times.
After that I was back on the rock for three weeks. I had a great time reconnecting with an old friend from high school (you know who you are) and just enjoying a social experience I haven't had in a long time.
So a couple weeks on the rock and I'm destined to return to Ontario for Zion Hill Camp. Zion Hill never lets me down. This year I got to play with the band once again. This week was pretty straight forward, and is always a good time. Oh and did I mention we went white water rafting? Oh and shout out to Danny Mac as well.
I then had a week of nothing to do, so I spent it between Darren's Cottage and Toronto...I LOVE TORONTO!
So for the sake of length I'm going to keep this short and sweet, because my next week can not be accurately describe in less than a million words. I then returned to the Lake. I fall a little more in love with the Lake every time I go there. Silver Lake will forever hold a special place in my heart, for many reasons. The week was just amazing, the food was great, the company was awesome, the activities were a ton of fun, the speaking, music, it all topped the scale. Good times for all!
I've been reflecting on my summer the last couple days. Connecting with old friends, much undeserved down time, good teaching from the Word, and a lot of love from friends all over. God knew what I needed this summer and He gave it to me. I've finally picked up my devotions again after being dormant for so long, and God is again reminding me of the truth He's already spoken to me, and that the good work He started He will see through to completion.
Fall is fast approaching now and everyone is pretty much back at the grind of life. I already see the challenges that lie ahead of me this fall, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Everyone who knows me should know I'm not perfect but I look forward to what God has for me in the days to come.
So with all that said I hope I didn't bore you guys. As I've said this summer was exactly what I needed, and I see the ways God has changed, and stretched me without me really even noticing. So for that I thank Him.
And with that I bid you adue, and compel you to keep checking back...you never know what you will find!
P.S. Bethany "Freedom" summer team rating...hmmm...Speaking of girl-groups, on a scale of Lillix to Pussycat Dolls, I give them a...Wilson Phillips. GO TO HOUGHTON, and Jon Vogan for President. Love you guys, it's been a pleasure to meet and know all of you.
Oh and...I miss Clarkson
So with the invasion of facebook polluting the psyche of our culture young and old alike, and with marriage taking over everyone's lives (ahem pastors) it may seem as though the blogging world has come to an end. I mean in all honesty we don't live in the same world we did just two or three years ago. So, having said all this, this post may just seem like the obligatory once-a-year post that plagues the blogging world as of late and just brings shame on the whole idea of blogging all together.
Having said that, I have wrestled with the idea of grabbing the defib-paddles and reviving my blog. However it is still up in the air so we will have to see...Now enough of the political blogging crap, lets get to the good stuff.
This summer was actually a pretty good one for me, in fact it was an excellent summer! I had the pleasure a couple weeks ago of watching the last hope of my social life disappear. You guessed it, I had the pleasure of standing up with my cousin Theron in his wedding. For those of you who don't know he finally married Duska (and can I say "It's about time!"). So you two now have an official Scott's Blog congratulations on tying the knot.
My summer started out a little undecided. I thought it was going to be another routine crappy summer, but boy was I ever wrong. Now for those of you who don't know, after lobster fishing I usually work on the weir in the summer time. So my summer started really the best way it could have this year. We took up lobster traps a week early and I got laid off from the weir...and what a blessing that has been! So, in need of work and with nothing to do I did what any good Dave Ramsey listener would do...I went on vacation!
The week after taking traps up (the week we were actually supposed to take traps up) a group from the church traveled to Silver Lake Wesleyan Camp in Ontario to do some work. And I think all of us would agree it was quite a treat. Though my week was plagued by the sight of those miserable picnic tables, we had a great time! Maybe it was stealing puzzle pieces from music camp, or squeegeeing sweat off Parker's back in the Grand Manan vs Staff basketball games, or a triumphant singing of the national anthem in the cafeteria, anyone on the camp ground that week I think would agree it was a week to remember. Plus I got to bring Clarkson home with me for a while!
Soon after returning from the Lake, I went to Beulah for the duration of "Beulah Week". It's the first time in many years I've been there for the whole week, and it was great. The speaking was amazing, the music was great, the company was...hmmmm...wonderful though questionable at times.
After that I was back on the rock for three weeks. I had a great time reconnecting with an old friend from high school (you know who you are) and just enjoying a social experience I haven't had in a long time.
So a couple weeks on the rock and I'm destined to return to Ontario for Zion Hill Camp. Zion Hill never lets me down. This year I got to play with the band once again. This week was pretty straight forward, and is always a good time. Oh and did I mention we went white water rafting? Oh and shout out to Danny Mac as well.
I then had a week of nothing to do, so I spent it between Darren's Cottage and Toronto...I LOVE TORONTO!
So for the sake of length I'm going to keep this short and sweet, because my next week can not be accurately describe in less than a million words. I then returned to the Lake. I fall a little more in love with the Lake every time I go there. Silver Lake will forever hold a special place in my heart, for many reasons. The week was just amazing, the food was great, the company was awesome, the activities were a ton of fun, the speaking, music, it all topped the scale. Good times for all!
I've been reflecting on my summer the last couple days. Connecting with old friends, much undeserved down time, good teaching from the Word, and a lot of love from friends all over. God knew what I needed this summer and He gave it to me. I've finally picked up my devotions again after being dormant for so long, and God is again reminding me of the truth He's already spoken to me, and that the good work He started He will see through to completion.
Fall is fast approaching now and everyone is pretty much back at the grind of life. I already see the challenges that lie ahead of me this fall, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Everyone who knows me should know I'm not perfect but I look forward to what God has for me in the days to come.
So with all that said I hope I didn't bore you guys. As I've said this summer was exactly what I needed, and I see the ways God has changed, and stretched me without me really even noticing. So for that I thank Him.
And with that I bid you adue, and compel you to keep checking back...you never know what you will find!
P.S. Bethany "Freedom" summer team rating...hmmm...Speaking of girl-groups, on a scale of Lillix to Pussycat Dolls, I give them a...Wilson Phillips. GO TO HOUGHTON, and Jon Vogan for President. Love you guys, it's been a pleasure to meet and know all of you.
Oh and...I miss Clarkson
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Promised Me Heaven And Put Me Through Hell
This may seem like a different post than you may usually see on my blog...but I just can't keep this kind of stuff to myself.
So...hmmm, where to start. I found myself on a little bit of a vacation this past week. Steph Not-Neves, Robyn, Kaley Tatton, and Me traveled to Toronto last thursday for a few days off.
The trip contained several pleasurable experiences like my first ride on a train (not just any train...a GO Train), I finally figured out the subway system...I think, another ride to the top on the CN Tower, and enjoying the Eaton's Centre in all it's not-Mcallister Place glory.
And ya, that's really about it, it was nice to get away.
Oh, one more thing. Did I mention that I say Bon Jovi live? Yes it is true. I don't know if you guys noticed the picture on the way in but if you refer to the top of the screen you will see none other than Mr. Jon Bon Jovi, and his quote "right hand man" Richie Sambora.
On Monday night, me and 20,000 of my closet friends convened in the Air Canada Centre to witness what is truly poetry in motion. And though our seat aren't what most would call "great" (seated right behind the stage) this was definitely a concert for the books.
Well I'll start with the opening act Daughtry. Now you should all know that I am not a big fan of American Idol, but this guy has got talent. He is one of the best opening bands I think I've ever seen. One other thing here that I think deserves a shout out is Daughtry's drummer. The guy was wearing a sleeveless hoodie, a kilt, and some kind of weird mask, and can he ever play the drums. He has inspired me to offer Tim Branscombe $100 if he will wear the same attire while playing in church on Sunday morning...And that's something you can take to the bank.
The concert was incredible, it amazed me how after all these years Bon Jovi's voice still rings out in perfect melody to the beautiful rock anthems and ballads of the 80's. I can't tell you guys how much I enjoyed this show, I was truly impressed. Everything from the entertainment value, to the music, to the vocals, crowd involvement made this a truly entertaining time.
The set list started off with the title track off the new cd "Lost Highway" soon to be followed up by "You give love a bad name", some others that deserve an honorable mention are; Bad Medicine, Living on a prayer, Keep the Faith, Born to be my baby, Daughtry joined in for Blaze of Glory, plus more that will get mention as this blog proceeds forth.
I will say I did have one disappointment with the show and that was that they did not play my favorite song "Always". Apparently there is no luck in my loaded dice. Though this did come as somewhat of a relief to me as it did allow me to keep my tears and urine safely contained within my body.
There is just something about seeing a band live that I love. I mean where else can you find thousands of women lusting simultaneously after the same person? Maybe it was the incredible and lost art of the mind blowing rock and roll 80's guitar solos, or Jon and Richie standing in the crowd playing acoustic guitars, staring passionately into each other's eyes singing "I'll be there for you", or maybe just another chance to scream "Wanted Dead Or Alive" at the top of my lungs uncontrollably. All this and more added up to what became a truly memorable time.
Some may call me crazy for driving that far for a concert...but hey, It's my life. One thing is for sure, Bon Jovi is like Bad Medicine. Who cares if these fine looking gentlemen are old, they still got it.
I hear rumors that he will be playing in Charlottetown this summer...I'll see you there.
Have a nice day
(p.s. Please note all song names contained within this blog were on the set list.)
Friday, December 21, 2007
Ho, Ho, Ho
Well everyone, I have returned for short season. I must say, it looks like it is going to be white Christmas (and yes I know it is giving rain for Monday) but I still have complete confidence in the white factor that should invade our Christmas.
Anyway I just wanted to make a short appearance to wish all of my friends and faithful blog checkers a Merry Christmas. And also a save and festive Holiday season, with traveling and what not.
Also thought maybe to promote commenting some people might want to tell some of their favorite holiday traditions or stories from years past...just a thought.
I know for me, my favorite tradition of Christmas is going to my Grandparent's Christmas morning for hot turkey sandwiches at 9am for breakfast...then proceed up the island to my other Grandmother's for turkey dinner. Ah, sweet suculant overindulging in food, while there are starving people in the world.
Just a little footnote, and I confess that I am totally guilty of this more than any other is, but as this holiday season has come and will soon pass I've become more aware of out, "consumerist" society in which we live, and I gotta say that it is really starting to bother me, so keep a close eye out, cause this could inspire a post.
Anyway it's been nice "connecting" so closely with you all again through the use of the internet but my time has come and I must go.
Have a great Christmas (and holiday season in general)!
Anyway I just wanted to make a short appearance to wish all of my friends and faithful blog checkers a Merry Christmas. And also a save and festive Holiday season, with traveling and what not.
Also thought maybe to promote commenting some people might want to tell some of their favorite holiday traditions or stories from years past...just a thought.
I know for me, my favorite tradition of Christmas is going to my Grandparent's Christmas morning for hot turkey sandwiches at 9am for breakfast...then proceed up the island to my other Grandmother's for turkey dinner. Ah, sweet suculant overindulging in food, while there are starving people in the world.
Just a little footnote, and I confess that I am totally guilty of this more than any other is, but as this holiday season has come and will soon pass I've become more aware of out, "consumerist" society in which we live, and I gotta say that it is really starting to bother me, so keep a close eye out, cause this could inspire a post.
Anyway it's been nice "connecting" so closely with you all again through the use of the internet but my time has come and I must go.
Have a great Christmas (and holiday season in general)!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
L'Atention, L'Atention, L'Atention
Bonjour....
Ok, Hello.
I regret to inform you that as of this day my blog and myself as the blogging world is concerned will be on an indefinite Hiatus. For personal reasons I feel as though I need to take an undetermined leave of absence. I know not when I shall return, maybe tomorrow (not likely), maybe the next day, maybe...well maybe never. So to those who have made this blog a frequent stop between their email and the mindless world of facebook I thank you. For those who have made this blog what it is (hopefully at the least a conversation piece) I thank you. We'll see what the future holds.
With that I bid you a due...for now.
Ok, Hello.
I regret to inform you that as of this day my blog and myself as the blogging world is concerned will be on an indefinite Hiatus. For personal reasons I feel as though I need to take an undetermined leave of absence. I know not when I shall return, maybe tomorrow (not likely), maybe the next day, maybe...well maybe never. So to those who have made this blog a frequent stop between their email and the mindless world of facebook I thank you. For those who have made this blog what it is (hopefully at the least a conversation piece) I thank you. We'll see what the future holds.
With that I bid you a due...for now.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
How?
I don't understand a God who loves the very person who sins against Him. I don't undestand.
When life is too much,
You are there
When life is not worth it,
You are there
When I need You,
You are there.
Your mercy is great,
Your Truth is powerful
In You I have hope
You deliver me,
Just as you promised
Let me live my final seconds of this life For you.
Let me grasp each on, good or bad.
That You may teach me, and Your love be shown.
May my life speak of Your love.
May my cries be joyful.
May my tears remind me of Your hope, Your promise
In You is life, love, all I need.
Let me leave it all, the old.
And let the new show of Your greatness.
Your grace is unfathomable.
Yet not too much for a sinner like me.
Your love is amazing
You hold on to me!
Thank You
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Harsh Atlantic
(The one with the stupid look on his face...ya if you didn't figure it out...thats me in my tradition pose of having a stupid look on my face. The other one is Patricia...my cousin)
Well it is not very often that I venture away from the more tradition themes in my blog...however this one just couldn't go untold.
I had a chance to share one of my favorite pass times with someone special. It was with my cousin Patricia on a recent visit of hers to Grand Manan that I discovered my true ambition and calling in life. Boat building. Now I don't want to brag but this may be the most masterful piece of work to ever challenge the waters of the Seal Cove Sound.
I can't tell you all how awesome I really am at this whole boat building thing, I mean this bad boy was constructed completely of junk off the Dark Harbour sea wall...she even comes with a set of stabilizers for added passenger comfort. And that ugly rag on there...well Patty wanted that, its a flag...(Flow high from the castle of my heart.)
Anyway just to say it again...I rock, I am awesome, I am totally radical and can out boat-build anyone!!!...But just to put a little spiritual side on this, we all know that pride cometh before the fall. If you looked at all the pics you'll see my masterpiece capsizing, fall victim to the hard seas of the Atlantic ocean. Guess I'll have to find a new calling in life.
Until next time.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A Pinky Swear From The Creator
Well I've written three blogs today, it just seems that every time I start writing I get on another side trail that turns into another post. It seems as though my "confessions" post was quite a freeing thing for me...Praise the Lord.
So right now I want to look at the Israelites...ah, the Israelites they really sucked at life a lot of the time. (I guess it's too bad that I'm just like them)
When you look at the story of the Israelites you see that when they are in the wilderness they are all griping and complaining about how they were better off in Egypt. How at least there they had food to eat there. I guess they all forgot about the inconvenience of bondage, torture, and slavery. And they seemed to forget what God promised...seems pretty convenient to me that this place they are going to is called "The Promised Land".
In the story of Israel we don't just see that they question God's promise. We also see that it might even seem that they were better off before God started doing what He wanted to do. Even though we were in bondage and slavery.
Something that the Israelites had a hard time with, and that I see in my own life, is that they all know how to look back, but what about looking ahead? The can look back and see how nice it was to have food in Egypt (even though life sucked there) but they don't look ahead to what God has said He will give them. I've said to God so many times lately that I'm miserable now, I was better of and happier the way I was, I had no cares then. I wasn't happy back then, I was just blind to the fact that I was in bondage and slavery.
I need to get my eyes off of how much better life was in the places I've been in my journey thus far. They were all just stepping stones to become who I am now, they weren't all in God's plan but still He's used them. I need to get my eyes on where I'm going, what God has for me, how He is going to use me for His glory in the future.
Its not always going to be easy, and I'm not going to always make the right decisions but I heard a quote one time I liked. It went something like this:
"How do you know you're moving forward if you never fall on your face"?
The road to come isn't necessarily an easy one, but its the only one I can change. The things I've been through are called experience, the things I've yet to endure are called choices. So I can do nothing else but to through God let my experience effect my choices.
Cheers to the Big Guy for having something bigger. Here's to what the future holds.
Be Thankful For What You've Had, Embrace What You Have, Reach For What Is Next.
So right now I want to look at the Israelites...ah, the Israelites they really sucked at life a lot of the time. (I guess it's too bad that I'm just like them)
When you look at the story of the Israelites you see that when they are in the wilderness they are all griping and complaining about how they were better off in Egypt. How at least there they had food to eat there. I guess they all forgot about the inconvenience of bondage, torture, and slavery. And they seemed to forget what God promised...seems pretty convenient to me that this place they are going to is called "The Promised Land".
In the story of Israel we don't just see that they question God's promise. We also see that it might even seem that they were better off before God started doing what He wanted to do. Even though we were in bondage and slavery.
Something that the Israelites had a hard time with, and that I see in my own life, is that they all know how to look back, but what about looking ahead? The can look back and see how nice it was to have food in Egypt (even though life sucked there) but they don't look ahead to what God has said He will give them. I've said to God so many times lately that I'm miserable now, I was better of and happier the way I was, I had no cares then. I wasn't happy back then, I was just blind to the fact that I was in bondage and slavery.
I need to get my eyes off of how much better life was in the places I've been in my journey thus far. They were all just stepping stones to become who I am now, they weren't all in God's plan but still He's used them. I need to get my eyes on where I'm going, what God has for me, how He is going to use me for His glory in the future.
Its not always going to be easy, and I'm not going to always make the right decisions but I heard a quote one time I liked. It went something like this:
"How do you know you're moving forward if you never fall on your face"?
The road to come isn't necessarily an easy one, but its the only one I can change. The things I've been through are called experience, the things I've yet to endure are called choices. So I can do nothing else but to through God let my experience effect my choices.
Cheers to the Big Guy for having something bigger. Here's to what the future holds.
Be Thankful For What You've Had, Embrace What You Have, Reach For What Is Next.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
There Once Was A Boy, And A Girl
This is the story of a boy and a girl, I think you'll recognize it.
After God has created everything and finds that it is good, He gives this command:
"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Gen 2:15-17
Not too long after we see the serpent, a crafty little bugger comes up and says:
"Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
That isn't what God said at all!
Now lets go back to Jesus' baptism, and temptation.
Something I think is worth noticing about this time in Jesus' life is that after His baptism God says: "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well please"...then the next words spoken by anyone are those of the Devil, he says "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
"If you are the Son of God"?...Wait...God just declared Jesus is his Son!
Does anyone else see a pattern here? I do...Satan will always bring into question what God has said.
Satan knows that God has a plan, and he wants to scheme one of his own. How often in our life do we find ourselves questioning what we know is wrong, justifying what we know is wrong, wrestling with what we know if wrong?
What if we just trusted what God said? What if we just trusted the truth as truth? What if we just trusted what God has said to be better, to actually be better?
So often in my life I find myself wresting with things that when I look back at them seem so simple. One thing you can be sure of when you are making a tough decision. (At the risk of being annoyingly repetitive) Satan will always bring into question what God has said.
Thats why we need to know what God says about us, about who we are, about what we are supposed to do. We need to trust what God has said, because you can be sure that doubt is going to creep in.
The real hope we have is that even though Satan has a plan for us too...God's plan is going to win out in the end.
After God has created everything and finds that it is good, He gives this command:
"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Gen 2:15-17
Not too long after we see the serpent, a crafty little bugger comes up and says:
"Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
That isn't what God said at all!
Now lets go back to Jesus' baptism, and temptation.
Something I think is worth noticing about this time in Jesus' life is that after His baptism God says: "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well please"...then the next words spoken by anyone are those of the Devil, he says "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
"If you are the Son of God"?...Wait...God just declared Jesus is his Son!
Does anyone else see a pattern here? I do...Satan will always bring into question what God has said.
Satan knows that God has a plan, and he wants to scheme one of his own. How often in our life do we find ourselves questioning what we know is wrong, justifying what we know is wrong, wrestling with what we know if wrong?
What if we just trusted what God said? What if we just trusted the truth as truth? What if we just trusted what God has said to be better, to actually be better?
So often in my life I find myself wresting with things that when I look back at them seem so simple. One thing you can be sure of when you are making a tough decision. (At the risk of being annoyingly repetitive) Satan will always bring into question what God has said.
Thats why we need to know what God says about us, about who we are, about what we are supposed to do. We need to trust what God has said, because you can be sure that doubt is going to creep in.
The real hope we have is that even though Satan has a plan for us too...God's plan is going to win out in the end.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
On A Lonely Lonesome Highway, East Of Omaha? Or Born To Be Wild?
Well though the post title may hint towards it I'm not going to share with you guys about me turning the next page in my life, mostly because it hasn't arrived yet.
I am about to share with you all one of my deepest struggles, one that I don't feel that I am flying solo in carrying. I bet there would be a lot of people on the plane if we all to a head count.
For most of my life I have struggled with loneliness. That feeling that you're on your own and no one seems to care, no one seems to know what your feeling and going through, and there is no end in sight. The feeling of being (or at least feeling as though you are) alone. Left with yourself to waste away.
Many nights I have laid in bed feeling this way. This is by no means a pity party for me, but I want to unpack this a little bit if I can.
We all know that Satan doesn't want God's people to be united, he wants us to be separated and feel alone. But I think maybe there is more to loneliness that just Satan trying to make us feel separated.
After Jesus is Baptized and God declares that "This is my Son in whom I love; with Him I am well please" (Mt 3:17 NIV) Jesus is then led into the wilderness for forty days, at the end of which he is tempted by Satan, and of course He overcomes temptation.
I guess so often in our lives when we go through hard times we think that it is Satan trying to get us down, or that it is an attack. But in this story we see that Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit. So when we feel like we're under attack, maybe it's just part of God's plan.
Now I'm going to try to draw a line between wilderness and loneliness. I mean Jesus had to be in the wilderness then tempted by the Devil, I believe that it is what had to happen. So what if when we feel lonely it is just God trying to be close to us, trying to develop us so that He can give us what He has for us? I mean think about all the wilderness the Israelites had to go through before the got what God had for them.
I guess I see there are two ways that this can go in times of loneliness, and wilderness, we can try to fill the emptiness and do our own thing and possibly miss out on what God has for us. Or we can embrace it as God wanting to develop us and be close to us. So maybe loneliness is exactly what He needs for me right now to achieve His plan, and fulfill His promises.
His ways are bigger than ours.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6 NIV)
One more little addition to this post:
"I'm only lonely on the inside"
-Who could say it any better than Hootie
For most of my life I have struggled with loneliness. That feeling that you're on your own and no one seems to care, no one seems to know what your feeling and going through, and there is no end in sight. The feeling of being (or at least feeling as though you are) alone. Left with yourself to waste away.
Many nights I have laid in bed feeling this way. This is by no means a pity party for me, but I want to unpack this a little bit if I can.
We all know that Satan doesn't want God's people to be united, he wants us to be separated and feel alone. But I think maybe there is more to loneliness that just Satan trying to make us feel separated.
After Jesus is Baptized and God declares that "This is my Son in whom I love; with Him I am well please" (Mt 3:17 NIV) Jesus is then led into the wilderness for forty days, at the end of which he is tempted by Satan, and of course He overcomes temptation.
I guess so often in our lives when we go through hard times we think that it is Satan trying to get us down, or that it is an attack. But in this story we see that Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit. So when we feel like we're under attack, maybe it's just part of God's plan.
Now I'm going to try to draw a line between wilderness and loneliness. I mean Jesus had to be in the wilderness then tempted by the Devil, I believe that it is what had to happen. So what if when we feel lonely it is just God trying to be close to us, trying to develop us so that He can give us what He has for us? I mean think about all the wilderness the Israelites had to go through before the got what God had for them.
I guess I see there are two ways that this can go in times of loneliness, and wilderness, we can try to fill the emptiness and do our own thing and possibly miss out on what God has for us. Or we can embrace it as God wanting to develop us and be close to us. So maybe loneliness is exactly what He needs for me right now to achieve His plan, and fulfill His promises.
His ways are bigger than ours.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6 NIV)
One more little addition to this post:
"I'm only lonely on the inside"
-Who could say it any better than Hootie
Monday, September 17, 2007
Reflections Of Things Past...Good, Bad, Or Ugly?
Hmmm...I bet they never expected this to leak onto the internet!
Again, I bid you all a hello. The pictures above are from the former cutest couple in the world. (Who one night, at Kirk's house, thought it would be funny to use my camera to take millions of stupid pictures of themselves kanoodling. These are just a few of them.)
Yes Central Wesleyan, that is your pastoral staff.
Congrats to Jo and Kirk on their recent engagement. I have no pictures of them (sorry, just the cuties above this time) but I gotta say that it is just awesome to watch my life slowly disappear into the endless void of marriage one friend at a time. They come and seem so strong yet one by one they fall. Couples are gross.
In the mean time, feel free to comment.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Confessions Part 1 (Warning, If I Do All My Confessions...There Could Be A Lot Of Parts)
Well, I have to make a confession, something I have to admit before I can proceed any further with my blog.. I received affirmation considering my blog this week. From an individual who I respect very much. Now here comes the good part. The thing was that when this person said it to me, I felt like I needed to post. Not because I really had anything on my mind to share but because I wanted to impress people.
Now if most of you are smart, (I think you are) then you'll should know better than to be impressed by me. But I have to confess that I feel the pressure to blog, often just for the sake of blogging so people will tell me how much they enjoy it.
When I first started this blog it was more of a joke for me...not even a joke, it was something to waste time that I just all of a sudden seemed to have kicking around. But very quickly it turned into something more for me, which I don't think is an accident. I told myself then that I was only going to share my own personal thoughts and lesson that I learned on my journey through life.
And yet time and time again I have had to stop writing posts, delete posts, and have caught myself writing just for the simple reason that I haven't posted in a while. Numerous occasions during the summer I have sat down and began to post, and yet deep down inside I knew I wasn't in the position to be doing that.
Even today I've frantically been trying to find something to post, because I love it, I love learning from God and sharing it with others in this way. (Writing is really my only way of getting out what I'm thinking) And I admit the frustration that has come when I don't get anything to post, but obviously God isn't done showing me something yet, I just don't see the big picture yet, or I've let my pride overtake what is really important (In other words, I want to say what I want to say when I want to say it...Not what God wants to say when He wants to say it). I want to make sure in whatever I do here, whatever I say, that it has God's blessing.
I see this blog as a place of reflection for me, a place where I can record what God has done for me, so that I never forget it. Because when we forget what God has done for us then it is so easy to just stop following him. And even more than that I hope that this can be a place where I share from my journey in life, my struggles, my strong points, the lesson I learn (and even an inside joke here and there) in hopes that it truly will help or encourage someone else.
So that is my confession...well I guess it is a confession.
I pray that I will never let pride come into this, and that it will remain only what God wants it to be. Without God I would have never made it through some very tough times. Without the friends He's blessed me with I would have then encouragement I needed to endure the trials of life.
Now if most of you are smart, (I think you are) then you'll should know better than to be impressed by me. But I have to confess that I feel the pressure to blog, often just for the sake of blogging so people will tell me how much they enjoy it.
When I first started this blog it was more of a joke for me...not even a joke, it was something to waste time that I just all of a sudden seemed to have kicking around. But very quickly it turned into something more for me, which I don't think is an accident. I told myself then that I was only going to share my own personal thoughts and lesson that I learned on my journey through life.
And yet time and time again I have had to stop writing posts, delete posts, and have caught myself writing just for the simple reason that I haven't posted in a while. Numerous occasions during the summer I have sat down and began to post, and yet deep down inside I knew I wasn't in the position to be doing that.
Even today I've frantically been trying to find something to post, because I love it, I love learning from God and sharing it with others in this way. (Writing is really my only way of getting out what I'm thinking) And I admit the frustration that has come when I don't get anything to post, but obviously God isn't done showing me something yet, I just don't see the big picture yet, or I've let my pride overtake what is really important (In other words, I want to say what I want to say when I want to say it...Not what God wants to say when He wants to say it). I want to make sure in whatever I do here, whatever I say, that it has God's blessing.
I see this blog as a place of reflection for me, a place where I can record what God has done for me, so that I never forget it. Because when we forget what God has done for us then it is so easy to just stop following him. And even more than that I hope that this can be a place where I share from my journey in life, my struggles, my strong points, the lesson I learn (and even an inside joke here and there) in hopes that it truly will help or encourage someone else.
So that is my confession...well I guess it is a confession.
I pray that I will never let pride come into this, and that it will remain only what God wants it to be. Without God I would have never made it through some very tough times. Without the friends He's blessed me with I would have then encouragement I needed to endure the trials of life.
I thank Him for who He is, and for what He does for me.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Bigger or Better?
Well...it has been a while since I posted last. Hopefully this marks the official start of my blogging again.
Well the summer for me was one of, drama...uh, that is about it lol. No, honestly though, it has been a good summer indeed, lots of work at the weir (I love it) a little time on the mainland, a great birthday with my friends. And to top it all off, the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to in my life.
So at this time I must take a second to bid the newlywed Branscombes a congratulations. (There ya go, an official shout out from the Scott Ingalls Blog.) Seriously, the best and most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. And to top it all of THE VOWS WERE AMAZING!!!! (I think you know what I mean)
If you want to see pictures you can find them on Stephanie Fitzsimmon's facebook. She did an amazing job. She's got a great eye...and she did have some pretty good subjects to work with.
Now to the point. I've been watching through some of my U2 dvds the last couple of nights. (And Btw, If you don't think U2 are spiritual...uh...you're wrong.)
But in one concert just before the song "Where the streets have no name" Bono quotes a section from the Message translation (I use the term loosely) of the Bible. He quotes from Psalm 116 around verse 12.
"What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?
I'll lift high the cup of Salvation, a toast to God
I'll pray in the name of God;
I'll complete what I promised God I'd Do,
And I'll Do It together with His People"
It reminds me of a song I sang once in a Christmas concert against my will...it went like this "what can I give to the King, give to the one who has everything"...ok yes, the song sucked.
But it got me to thinking about what I have to offer God. All I have is this poor excuse for a life and the mess I have made of it. And God still wants it?
It is still rough for me at times, and I wonder what I am to do with my life, what I want for myself, how I will achieve that and how it will all turn out in the end. Everything I have done, seen and endured in the last year has left me to be summed up in one word...TIRED. It has left me to think that there is no salvation from this weariness. Cause I'm nearing the end of the rope.
I realized once again that through all this time God still wants to teach me, and use me (A reminder is always good). The thought occurred to me, God has so much of a bigger plan for me than I could ever have for myself.
When I'm ready to throw in the towel on myself, God still has a bigger plan for me. When I sin, or when I am about to sin, the though occurs to me "something bigger". Right now I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and all around me is confusion, more pain and fatigue but God in the midst of it all still has something bigger in His plan for me than I could ever dream up. God wants to blow my mind with what he has for me, if I rely on him.
I don't know if this has seemed clear to anyone else but I hope so. If you are confused, down, angry, or like me, just worn out. Remember, God has a something bigger for you. When you don't want to go on another day, God has something bigger for you, I truly believe that. So trust, hold onto Him, and rest in his promises.
So I leave you with this thought, this hope, this promise:
Well the summer for me was one of, drama...uh, that is about it lol. No, honestly though, it has been a good summer indeed, lots of work at the weir (I love it) a little time on the mainland, a great birthday with my friends. And to top it all off, the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to in my life.
So at this time I must take a second to bid the newlywed Branscombes a congratulations. (There ya go, an official shout out from the Scott Ingalls Blog.) Seriously, the best and most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. And to top it all of THE VOWS WERE AMAZING!!!! (I think you know what I mean)
If you want to see pictures you can find them on Stephanie Fitzsimmon's facebook. She did an amazing job. She's got a great eye...and she did have some pretty good subjects to work with.
Now to the point. I've been watching through some of my U2 dvds the last couple of nights. (And Btw, If you don't think U2 are spiritual...uh...you're wrong.)
But in one concert just before the song "Where the streets have no name" Bono quotes a section from the Message translation (I use the term loosely) of the Bible. He quotes from Psalm 116 around verse 12.
"What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?
I'll lift high the cup of Salvation, a toast to God
I'll pray in the name of God;
I'll complete what I promised God I'd Do,
And I'll Do It together with His People"
It reminds me of a song I sang once in a Christmas concert against my will...it went like this "what can I give to the King, give to the one who has everything"...ok yes, the song sucked.
But it got me to thinking about what I have to offer God. All I have is this poor excuse for a life and the mess I have made of it. And God still wants it?
It is still rough for me at times, and I wonder what I am to do with my life, what I want for myself, how I will achieve that and how it will all turn out in the end. Everything I have done, seen and endured in the last year has left me to be summed up in one word...TIRED. It has left me to think that there is no salvation from this weariness. Cause I'm nearing the end of the rope.
I realized once again that through all this time God still wants to teach me, and use me (A reminder is always good). The thought occurred to me, God has so much of a bigger plan for me than I could ever have for myself.
When I'm ready to throw in the towel on myself, God still has a bigger plan for me. When I sin, or when I am about to sin, the though occurs to me "something bigger". Right now I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and all around me is confusion, more pain and fatigue but God in the midst of it all still has something bigger in His plan for me than I could ever dream up. God wants to blow my mind with what he has for me, if I rely on him.
I don't know if this has seemed clear to anyone else but I hope so. If you are confused, down, angry, or like me, just worn out. Remember, God has a something bigger for you. When you don't want to go on another day, God has something bigger for you, I truly believe that. So trust, hold onto Him, and rest in his promises.
So I leave you with this thought, this hope, this promise:
Something Bigger
I thank God for his love, faithfulness, His Love. I thank him for hard times. Without Him I don't know where I'd be.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Ta-Da!
Oh where oh where has that little Scott gone? Oh where oh where can he be? Well folks I realize that I haven't been very vocal laitly on my blog...some would even go so far as to call me a slogger, which is both insulting and eye opening to me.
I would like to apologize for my sucktasticallity when it comes to my blog, I have been on a little bit of a hiatus due to reasons that are completely under my control.
None the less I am sorry and I am going to do my best to blog more often and feed all of you maggots once again. (Ok, I hope no one cares that I called you maggots, but you just all seem to be sitting there waiting for me to spit something out so you can eat it up and not post on it. Anyone who knows me should know better than to be offended by this statement. Anyone who doesn't know me should know that offense is the the bait of satan...plus I probably spelled maggots wrong anyway) But no matter what you think of this post, stay tuned because there is more and better things to come...I hope.
I appreciate the faithfulness of everyone who checks this blog regularly for a new post and get disappointed again and again, I shall serve you better in the future.
Ok, Peace out all.
P.S. Comment!!
I would like to apologize for my sucktasticallity when it comes to my blog, I have been on a little bit of a hiatus due to reasons that are completely under my control.
None the less I am sorry and I am going to do my best to blog more often and feed all of you maggots once again. (Ok, I hope no one cares that I called you maggots, but you just all seem to be sitting there waiting for me to spit something out so you can eat it up and not post on it. Anyone who knows me should know better than to be offended by this statement. Anyone who doesn't know me should know that offense is the the bait of satan...plus I probably spelled maggots wrong anyway) But no matter what you think of this post, stay tuned because there is more and better things to come...I hope.
I appreciate the faithfulness of everyone who checks this blog regularly for a new post and get disappointed again and again, I shall serve you better in the future.
Ok, Peace out all.
P.S. Comment!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Perseverence...The Story Of My Life?
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
Blah, blah, blah, the last thing anyone wants to hear when life sucks! Isn't that the truth?
Well this one is coming from my own personal experience. I am not going to share the situation with you, but most of you know what I am talking about anyway.
I've had this little saying the past little while. It goes like this..."drama". Oh ya, and then I would follow that statement with "the story of my life". Now I would imagine that most of the world could agree with this statement. That there is always some sort of drama going on, some sort of sucktastic junk on your mind. Some issue, or situation that weighs you down, and is heavy on your heart.
Most of you who know my story know that I have put myself in the exact same situation twice now in the past year. And I've handled it in two different ways. Now the first time I began to spend more time in the word and began growing in my spiritual life. But as my situation just seemed to grow in suckiness I didn't continue in my devotions.
Now this second time I kept going with my devotions no matter what. Hanging on, hoping that somewhere, somehow, God would come good on his promises. (Now none of this is to ring my own bell or to make me look like superchristian, because I'm not).
I have this little ritual I go through when life sucks. It usually starts with reading some of Job. Then the whole "concider it pure joy thing", and then I dabble a little Psalm 40 in there too. And I never seem to get anything out of it.
Well one day I was going through my ritual and got to this passage in James. And I was just sitting asking God why I was going through what seemed like hell...again. (I realize that I have blogged on how pointless asking "why" is). And it hit me. God was trying to teach me perseverence, He wants to know if I am in it for the long haul.
And I got looking into the verse a little more (you don't have to look very hard to find what I found). We need perseverence so that we can be mature and complete, which is something I want, maturity in my life, my spiritual life as well. Now looking at the verses before it, you see that perseverence is developed by the testing of our faith. And that is why we should concider it pure joy when we face trials, because God is going to teach us. God wants to know who is in it for the long haul.
So then the story of my life shouldn't be so much "drama", but it should be what I do with that drama, the sucktasticality. Do I sit still, or turn away? Or do I let God develope perseverence in me, and let Him teach me, and make me "mature and complete, not lacking anything".
We as humans have such a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in times of trials. Because we have finite minds, minds that can't see the big picture. I'm glad that God has control of all this mess that I put myself in, that even though I don't, God sees the big picture. He has a plan and has it all worked out!
If anyone out there reading is going through a tough time. I encourage you to hold on to God, not only will He deliver you, but He'll teach you so much if you let Him. He sees the big picture.
God is teaching me so much in my times of trial. And this trial...it sucks...a lot, but I thank Him for it. I'm holding on for the long haul. Perseverence is going to be the story of my life.
A Few Words From A Genious
This one goes out to all the ladies who are frequent readers of my journey that I like to call "Selling out...a blogger's story".
This is something I read in the book "Sex God" by Rob Bell. And its something I think all the ladies should hear, so i am going to quote it for you.
"Do you realize?
You don't need a man by your side to validate you as a woman. You already are loved and valued. Do you believe this? Because it's true. You have limitless worth and value."
Now, the section is quite long, so I won't quote it all. (Also I would just like to add that THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, and I highly recomend it for everyone, again it is called "Sex God, Exploring the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality." And its by the genious Rob Bell.
But when I think about that part of the book I just wish every girl in the world could understand that. (Just a side note, for some reason or another I feel really retarded writing this....oh well...I shall continue!) Our culture comes down on women so hard, objectifying then and making them feel like they are never good enough but that some cocoa butter and a cute boyfriend who treats you like crap would help that.
This is so far from the truth, God loves each and every one of you just as you are, don't every buy into the lie that you are not good enough. God believes that you are worth dying for!
Now though this peticular section of the book was aimed towards the ladies, I would like to expand that thought a little and apply it for the rest of us. The title of that chapter was "Worth Dying For" so...
"Worth Dying For"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Need I give you the reference...(John 3:16))
This is something I read in the book "Sex God" by Rob Bell. And its something I think all the ladies should hear, so i am going to quote it for you.
"Do you realize?
You don't need a man by your side to validate you as a woman. You already are loved and valued. Do you believe this? Because it's true. You have limitless worth and value."
Now, the section is quite long, so I won't quote it all. (Also I would just like to add that THIS BOOK IS AMAZING, and I highly recomend it for everyone, again it is called "Sex God, Exploring the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality." And its by the genious Rob Bell.
But when I think about that part of the book I just wish every girl in the world could understand that. (Just a side note, for some reason or another I feel really retarded writing this....oh well...I shall continue!) Our culture comes down on women so hard, objectifying then and making them feel like they are never good enough but that some cocoa butter and a cute boyfriend who treats you like crap would help that.
This is so far from the truth, God loves each and every one of you just as you are, don't every buy into the lie that you are not good enough. God believes that you are worth dying for!
Now though this peticular section of the book was aimed towards the ladies, I would like to expand that thought a little and apply it for the rest of us. The title of that chapter was "Worth Dying For" so...
"Worth Dying For"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Need I give you the reference...(John 3:16))
It is probably the most quoted and well know verse in the Bible. But how often do we miss the concept at hand here. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son". God sent His Son to die for us. I repeat...God sent His Son to die for us. Because Of Jesus we are free from Sin! God thinks we are worth dying for, He proved it.
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us"(Rom 5:8)
If we only could truly grasp this concept! God believes we are worth dying for. Now Rob Bell used this idea to show people how important they are and how they should never settle and that they fact that God loves us should be enough, we are worth dying for. And girls, never settle, don't settle for a guy who is second best to what God has for you.
But what if we thought about this in every area of our life; worth dying for and don't settle. (I bet there are so many people out there probably screaming at thier computers right now for me to listen to my own words lol). If Christ dies for us, shouldn't that be enough? We shouldn't need, girlfriends, boyfriends, trucks, houses, computers, iPods and so on, to make us feel accepted, loved, whole, completed.
We don't deserve what Jesus did for us, and we a lot of the time don't feel like we deserve it, but He still did it! (In the words of Beth Moore..."Praise You Father") Jesus dies for us because he loves us.
God loves me and that should be enough for me...nothing else. We have limitless worth and value to God.
I hope that everyone truly grasps, believe and understands this, it is a life changing and freeing truth.
I am worth dying for
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"So...Self Control Again Eh. Scott Must Have Done Something Stupid, Again.
Well it's confession time.
A little while back I posted a blog called "Fruit for Everyone", which was about self control. And in that post I wrote...and I quote. "There has been one area in my life that I have always wanted self control in and I have never had it...until now". Well it seems when I consider the events as of late that maybe I didn't have as much self control in this area as I had originally thought. Just seems maybe the temptation wasn't so...in my face.
Now I will say this much, I am doing much much better, but none the less I am human and I do fail...regularly. But that's not good enough for me, just being human and prone to failure. I am going to keep on persevering and letting God do work in me. I know He will deliver me from this if I stick with Him.
So this all leads me to a few thoughts on temptation. While I was at May Rally, the speaker put in a few words about temptation. Which is really cool because what he was saying was what I was learning about temptation. A great confirmation, and also what he said also tied together a few things I was learning about self control, temptation, and foundations.
Now if you will go back with me you will note that I had also posted a blog about foundations, and how we should have our lives founded in God. Now how do we found our lives in God, how do we follow what He wants? By getting into His word, the Bible.
The Bible is our offensive weapon. In the armor of God, it is the only offensive tool which we have against the enemy. So wouldn't it be good if we knew it, knew about it, knew how to use it. When Jesus was tempted (first off I would like to say that the Bible says "Jesus was lead into the dessert by the spirit to be tempted"...think about that one for a while). But when Jesus was tempted how does he reply to each temptation? By quoting scripture. If we knew God's word, and pulled it out when we were being tempted....that is our offence against the enemy. The word of God is so important to us!
So if we have God's word in our heart and we use it to resist evil, and temptation. Isn't that self control? Resisting our evil desires? So that's where these few little lessons meet.
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control" Pr 25:28
Now what was the wall around the city used for? Protection, that's right! So would it be safe to say that this verse is saying without self control we don't have protection.
Ultimately fighting against, and resisting temptation is self control. If we have our life founded in God, then we are in the word. If we are in the word then we not only have protection against temptation, but we can fight against it. So really it all boils down to God's word.
Now I will say this about temptation...which I learned and was confirmed at May Rally. God will always give us a way out of our temptation. I know this, when I am tempted I have seen that way out. It is usually so clear to me that to say I am an idiot when I give in to that temptation is a dramatic understatement.
I know for myself, and I bet for a lot of people, we don't even grasp the full importance of God's word. We read it and it seems so bring and dry, we get discouraged. But God's word is so important to us. Without it we have no offensive against evil. So lets get into the word, memorize it, know it, even question it, so that we can truly understand it and what God wants us to learn.
I thank God that He Forgives. And even in my foolish, evil ways He uses my short comings, failures, and sin to teach me. God is good.
A little while back I posted a blog called "Fruit for Everyone", which was about self control. And in that post I wrote...and I quote. "There has been one area in my life that I have always wanted self control in and I have never had it...until now". Well it seems when I consider the events as of late that maybe I didn't have as much self control in this area as I had originally thought. Just seems maybe the temptation wasn't so...in my face.
Now I will say this much, I am doing much much better, but none the less I am human and I do fail...regularly. But that's not good enough for me, just being human and prone to failure. I am going to keep on persevering and letting God do work in me. I know He will deliver me from this if I stick with Him.
So this all leads me to a few thoughts on temptation. While I was at May Rally, the speaker put in a few words about temptation. Which is really cool because what he was saying was what I was learning about temptation. A great confirmation, and also what he said also tied together a few things I was learning about self control, temptation, and foundations.
Now if you will go back with me you will note that I had also posted a blog about foundations, and how we should have our lives founded in God. Now how do we found our lives in God, how do we follow what He wants? By getting into His word, the Bible.
The Bible is our offensive weapon. In the armor of God, it is the only offensive tool which we have against the enemy. So wouldn't it be good if we knew it, knew about it, knew how to use it. When Jesus was tempted (first off I would like to say that the Bible says "Jesus was lead into the dessert by the spirit to be tempted"...think about that one for a while). But when Jesus was tempted how does he reply to each temptation? By quoting scripture. If we knew God's word, and pulled it out when we were being tempted....that is our offence against the enemy. The word of God is so important to us!
So if we have God's word in our heart and we use it to resist evil, and temptation. Isn't that self control? Resisting our evil desires? So that's where these few little lessons meet.
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control" Pr 25:28
Now what was the wall around the city used for? Protection, that's right! So would it be safe to say that this verse is saying without self control we don't have protection.
Ultimately fighting against, and resisting temptation is self control. If we have our life founded in God, then we are in the word. If we are in the word then we not only have protection against temptation, but we can fight against it. So really it all boils down to God's word.
Now I will say this about temptation...which I learned and was confirmed at May Rally. God will always give us a way out of our temptation. I know this, when I am tempted I have seen that way out. It is usually so clear to me that to say I am an idiot when I give in to that temptation is a dramatic understatement.
I know for myself, and I bet for a lot of people, we don't even grasp the full importance of God's word. We read it and it seems so bring and dry, we get discouraged. But God's word is so important to us. Without it we have no offensive against evil. So lets get into the word, memorize it, know it, even question it, so that we can truly understand it and what God wants us to learn.
I thank God that He Forgives. And even in my foolish, evil ways He uses my short comings, failures, and sin to teach me. God is good.
A "Sex God" Talked To Me Today. Part 2
So these pictures have nothing to do with my post...but apparently people like posts with pictures. So these pics are ones I took of Central Wesleyan's newest engaged couple. This was taken last fall while we were on a hike. As you can see they have reached the next stage of relationship, they are so in love they just can't help but spit water in each other's faces. Oh and I have more pictures of them, so stay tuned to the blog, cause you never know what you might see.
Have I ever mentioned how I feel about couples? Either way, Congratulations Tim and Holly.
Now onto something far more important.
My last blog got really long, so I decided to split it up. So just pretend this one is tagged right on the end of the last one titled "A 'Sex God' talked to me today. Part 1".
So from reading "Sex God" I am learning taht we are so disconnected with God, with each other, with nature. So I want to encourage everyone to get outside, alone and listen for God. But more than just alone, with others, family, friends, people you don't care for, everyone! God drove this home for me on my hike today. He wants us to be connected, and this is a great way to do it...GO OUTSIDE! We can sit on msn, facebook, blogs (I see the irony) all we want and leave comments, have conversations, talk on the phone, watch movies and still be so disconnect from each other. Outside, away from distractions, enjoying the beauty, and wonder of God's creation. There is something special about being outside.
Go outside, hike, play baseball, throw the football, go for a hike with your family, invite people over to watch your idiot dog run around the yard. Who cares but get with people and get connected with each other, God, nature.
"God looked at all that He had made, and it was very good." (Gen 1:31) So lets enjoy it. Its a great chance to get to know people. Families, friends, whatever. God showed me the importance of getting outside and its something that I want to do more. And that is also my challenge to you as well.
Maybe this sounds a little crazy to some people...and don't get me wrong, I AM NOT A TREE HUGGER! But I like I say, God just showed me the importance of being outside with Him alone, and with Him and others. I don't even know if I fully understand what all this means or the true significance of it, but there is something more there than just walking through the trees like David Suzuki and his buddies. There's something spiritual, it's relationships between people, God, and nature...the way God originally created the earth to be.
A "Sex God" Talked To Me Today. Part 1
So here you see a few pictures of me with a white rock. Me with a white rock in my mouth, me with a white rock on my head, me throwing a white rock in the air beside me and trying to get a picture or it, and finally me just holding a white rock.
Well there is a story behind all this.
Today I was reading "Sex God, Exploring the endless connection between sexuality and spirituality" by Rob Bell. He was saying in chapter 3 that when Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden there was disconnection. Between the two of them (they will fight), between them and the earth (they have to work hard for the ground to produce), and between them and God (Sin). And I got thinking about how disconnected I am from the earth, and from the beauty of God's creation. And how God wants me to enjoy that. So also knowing that getting alone outdoors in peace is a great chance to just listen for God, I decided to go for a hike. From Southern Head to the flock of rocks...or as most people would know them "The Flock Of Sheep".
I didn't do my OCDish check the computer before I left (I always have to see if by some lucky chance someone wrote me on msn, facebook, or my blog. I even left my cell phone at home. Just me, God, and a gorgeous day.
So on the hike out, God just brought a really cool idea into my head about some things. And I sat and just enjoyed an amazing, gorgeous day! I decided to hike back part of the way on the beach. I didn't get a hundred feet before I looked down amongst all the blue, grayish rocks and I saw this one rock...you guess it, it was white. So not even thinking about it I picked it up and brought it with me. I didn't give it any thought at all.
I continue my walk thinking about what I could do with this rock. I could throw it at another rock and when it bounces back try to catch it. Or I could take it to the cliffs and throw it off (because we all know throwing things off high places is fun...that's why I like rappelling). None the less I had to special thought behind this rock, I was just walking fiddling around with it and tossing it around in my hands.
(Now this next part is not to say that everyone who goes hiking and finds a rock has to have something profound happen, but this is kind of cool for me.)
Somewhere on the way back I was thinking about something else I read in Sex God, when it explains the story of Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 25-27 I think). Now I have never actually read this story on my own...which now of course I have to do. But anyway, God makes a promise to Jacob, and Jacob places a stone there to mark the spot where this promise was made. Years later he returns and builds an altar there.
Now all of a sudden this rock had more meaning to me. I know it sounds cheesy but I can't explain it any other way than that. This little white rock that I found and planned to throw away now meant so much more to me.
It was a symbol of what God has been teaching me lately. To wait (qavah), He will raise me up. How He talks to me when I take time for him. How He delivers me from evil, oppression, anger, pain and sorrow. How He hears my cries and holds me, and raises me up in those times. How He is an amazing God who created the earth, beautiful. How He loves me so much that I am worth dying for. How He has a plan for my life. How He is in control of everything, and has it all worked out. How He wants me to be connected to nature, others and Himself. How Good He is to me. Ultimately, how He is the loving, powerful, GOD OF ALL.
I have to admit, I wanted to throw it off the cliff when I got back (again, just because its cool) but I honestly couldn't. Now the rock sits on my dresser as a reminder to me of who God is.
So ya, this is just a story of what happened to me today, and it was really cool for me. Even though it might sound strange. God is good!
P.S. Part 2 will be up in a couple of days.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Hey, Hey, Hey. Qavah A Minute! (I Think He Could Be Glue)
Well…I was doing my devotions the other day. And in my devotions I just happen to be reading through the book of Isaiah. (Note: Reading through the prophets can seem a little dry at times) So I’m doing my reading and thinking the usual…”ok so what does all this stuff that he says have to do with me? He’s a prophet, who obviously isn’t prophesying to me.”
And then it came, when I least expect it, as it always does. Right at the end of the chapter is this verse (Another Note: NIV is the worst translation ever, and in order to catch what I’m saying here, you may want to take a look at the King James Version.)
Is 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
A very hopeful and inspiring verse to those who may be going through a hard time might I say?
Now, having recently decided that the “church of Beth Moore” isn’t my thing and since being brainwashed by Rob Bell and deciding that the “church of Rob Bell” has got it going on. (Hope I didn’t offend anyone, just some mild humor) I decide to br, br, break it down a little bit and look at the original language. So I went onto blueletterbible.com and looked up the verse and the concordance with all the original language stuff on it. Its pretty cool.
I took a look at the Hebrew word for “wait”, it is the word “qavah” (kaw-vaw). It’s a verb meaning to wait, look for, hope, expect, to wait eagerly for, to lie and wait for.
Then the thought came to me, and ingenious one that must have been from God cause I wouldn’t have figured it out on my own. What other verse do I know of that mentions waiting? Do you remember that song by that band? (Hint: The song is 40 and the band is U2) Not that song is actually a direct quote from;
Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
Now you guess it, in the first line, the original Hebrew word used for “waited patiently” is the word qavah. But I noticed that these verses also have another word in common. It is the Hebrew word `alah (aw-law) which means; to go up, ascend, climb, to meet, visit. Now it is used in Psalm 40 for the phrase “He brought me up”. But it is used in Isaiah 40 for the phrase “mount up”.
So what does all of this mean? Ok, so in Psalm 40 this just sounds like someone telling us what God did for them right? Yes, it does, but I believe that it is meant more like Isaiah 40. These two verses are a promise from God. Promises that if we wait (qavah) for God. He will lift us up (`alah) out of our pit.
Psalm 40 says “heard my cry”. How often do we cry out to God and feel like nothing happens? God promises us here, if we cry out to him, if we WAIT (qavah-wait eagerly, expect, hope) for Him, He is with us, he will lift us up.
It is too bad we live in a culture where waiting just isn’t an option. Can’t wait for supper to cool…nuke it(That would be the microwave)! Can’t wait for the guy in front of us…honk the horn!
I am so guilty of this, I have no patience. Ask God, if I don’t get immediately what I want, then move on for comfort somewhere else. What have I missed out on because I haven’t waited for God? Not just concerning hard times, what would we learn and hear from God if we took time, to just wait for Him. If we just took time to sit quietly and wait eagerly for God.
The woman who was sick and touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak as he walked by and was healed…I bet she was waiting eagerly for Jesus, watching every step he took as he came her way.
So that is my challenge for myself and for anyone else who would like to join me, to wait. Qavah for God.
And then it came, when I least expect it, as it always does. Right at the end of the chapter is this verse (Another Note: NIV is the worst translation ever, and in order to catch what I’m saying here, you may want to take a look at the King James Version.)
Is 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
A very hopeful and inspiring verse to those who may be going through a hard time might I say?
Now, having recently decided that the “church of Beth Moore” isn’t my thing and since being brainwashed by Rob Bell and deciding that the “church of Rob Bell” has got it going on. (Hope I didn’t offend anyone, just some mild humor) I decide to br, br, break it down a little bit and look at the original language. So I went onto blueletterbible.com and looked up the verse and the concordance with all the original language stuff on it. Its pretty cool.
I took a look at the Hebrew word for “wait”, it is the word “qavah” (kaw-vaw). It’s a verb meaning to wait, look for, hope, expect, to wait eagerly for, to lie and wait for.
Then the thought came to me, and ingenious one that must have been from God cause I wouldn’t have figured it out on my own. What other verse do I know of that mentions waiting? Do you remember that song by that band? (Hint: The song is 40 and the band is U2) Not that song is actually a direct quote from;
Psalm 40:1-2
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
Now you guess it, in the first line, the original Hebrew word used for “waited patiently” is the word qavah. But I noticed that these verses also have another word in common. It is the Hebrew word `alah (aw-law) which means; to go up, ascend, climb, to meet, visit. Now it is used in Psalm 40 for the phrase “He brought me up”. But it is used in Isaiah 40 for the phrase “mount up”.
So what does all of this mean? Ok, so in Psalm 40 this just sounds like someone telling us what God did for them right? Yes, it does, but I believe that it is meant more like Isaiah 40. These two verses are a promise from God. Promises that if we wait (qavah) for God. He will lift us up (`alah) out of our pit.
Psalm 40 says “heard my cry”. How often do we cry out to God and feel like nothing happens? God promises us here, if we cry out to him, if we WAIT (qavah-wait eagerly, expect, hope) for Him, He is with us, he will lift us up.
It is too bad we live in a culture where waiting just isn’t an option. Can’t wait for supper to cool…nuke it(That would be the microwave)! Can’t wait for the guy in front of us…honk the horn!
I am so guilty of this, I have no patience. Ask God, if I don’t get immediately what I want, then move on for comfort somewhere else. What have I missed out on because I haven’t waited for God? Not just concerning hard times, what would we learn and hear from God if we took time, to just wait for Him. If we just took time to sit quietly and wait eagerly for God.
The woman who was sick and touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak as he walked by and was healed…I bet she was waiting eagerly for Jesus, watching every step he took as he came her way.
So that is my challenge for myself and for anyone else who would like to join me, to wait. Qavah for God.
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