Sunday, February 28, 2010

Operation March: Full speed ahead, paper cuts and all!

This is a very quick, very short note on my endeavor for the next 31 days.

Intro:
Ok, this may seem very small and relatively pathetic if not down right pathetic, but it is a pretty big deal for me, so just humor me for a bit here. Thanks =D

Explanation:
When someone tells me "This book changed my life!" or "This is an amazing book! You have to read it!" I get really excited - no surprise. Only problem is I, well... have a problem. Which in the large picture may not be a problem but it defiantly tends to get in the way. The problem is I don't want to miss anything. Let me give you an example:
Me + 'amazing book' + comfy chair = very way cool and in need of coffee
[times 20 minutes and 3 chapters later]
Me + 'amazing book' + comfy chair + empty mug = slightly confused me because I can't remember what the first chapter was about.
My typical solution to this scenario is to get up, grab my journal and start the book over which ultimately ends up with struggling through the first chapter in the same amount of time it would take to read half the book and getting sidetracked and not picking the book up for a couple weeks which of course calls for review.
Congratulations - you now know my problem. Or at least one that is kind of ok on facebook/blog/online... anyways we won't go into any of my other problems especially since you finding about my problems is one of my problems.
Right, back to topic.
The bible [inserts holy 'awe' noise and emotional stimulation to fall on the floor]. I know that sounds a little sacrilegious, but seriously that's how it is for me - which I think it's good to be reverent but at the same time I subconsciously am stuck at a point to where I won't read parts of the bible that I have never read before because I don't want to miss anything.
In the front of my bible I have written:"This is Your word. Help me not to misuse it. But help me not be afraid to use it." That pretty much sums up the previous paragraphs.

My plan:
My plan is interesting. I am going to read straight through the bible like a book and not take notes or try and catch every little good thing in it. I figure it's God's word and He can totally emphasize what He wants me to get. And I am going to try and read the whole book in the month of March. Cray, huh?
In other words I am setting up a situation in which I could fail but honestly what could I loose by striving to do this. Who knows, maybe there'll be some humility added in there somewhere, especially if I fail my goal. At the same time though It's not a 'read the bible or bust into little maggots that ate that king somewhere in there' deal for me. I feel like this is a good thing and I'm supposed to do it. I don't feel like I'm supposed to race myself in how many pages I can do a day or set it up into any competition. I think it's an opportunity for me to understand God better and that is what He seems to be doing so far this year - expanding my view of him, deepening our relationship and breaking the boxes that I so carefully encased Him in (Which is cool! They like explode! Big boom!).
After thinking about this for the past 5 days or so it's almost starting to seem like I'm going to be reading someone's journal - and who takes notes on reading someone's journal, I mean unless it's like Hudson Taylor or George Muller. And I know God's bigger than all of them, but you know what I'm saying.
I'm not sure exactly when I will have time to read, with work and everything else. Plus I hardly ever get around to reading any books. I'm going to use all my free time to dig into the Bible and cut out things that I don't really need to spending my time on. I'm so excited! I just want to stay faithful and give it my all cause I really feel like his is something I'm supposed to do.

Purpose of this note:
Well, if you know that this is what I'm going to be trying to do for the next 31 days, you know how to pray for me! Plus accountability is always cool. It's always easier to give up on something if no one knows about it. AND I know it's really late notice, but if any of ya'll want to try and do this with me I figure we can only gain from getting to know our amazing awesome God more!

Disclaimer:
I was not sure as to who I should tag in this not so I decided I'd tag random people from random groups/events in my life. If I did not tag you and you desperately wanted to be tagged, please accept my humble apology and consider yourself officially and honorably tagged. =D

Ending:
If you have any suggestions or encouragement that'd be great! Thanks for taking the time to read this. Have an amazing St. Patrick day!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

[no longer subject to] My Pathetic Humanity

Mediocrity invades me like the sun invades a field
Beckons me to come bask in it's light of falsity
When I wander there it makes me feel fair, like I have no cares, I am walking on air
Til I see my dreams will never come true
Cause I'm not pursuing
The One who called me

Then I see where I am the distance in between
My dreams it's so far - a chasm width at least
And I sit and I think as a worm eats my shade
Depression threatens me with intense road rage

Sometimes it's just so hard to believe
This mental acid rain threatens to never leave
I pray and beg for a spiritual Tylenol
But when it comes my pride stores it for fall
Oh my pathetic humanity

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." - Galatians 5.16-17 NASB

The unshackling of the bondage of human nature by Christ's sacrifice
is truly an amazing thing.
I am no longer chained to myself.

[simple truth] In Christ, I am free.