Untitled by dreid@ccconline.cc at Garmin Connect - Details

Untitled by dreid@ccconline.cc at Garmin Connect - Details

Some reflection on scripture

For a change of pace, here is simply a passage from John that I find wonderful:

John 1:1-14 (NRSV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Noise

The sound of saws and machinery is loud outside my window. My brain is buzzing like the freshly hatched gnats of a summer night. Focus and Concentration picked up their bags and left the building a while ago.

Today isn't anything new though. My fight for calmness and clarity as I maneuver through the day is always tough. If it isn't the sound of machinery today, its the gnawing guilt of an argument I shouldn't have had, or the frustration at an expense that came out of nowhere. Every day is full of noise. Every day is full of things pulling, tugging, pushing, and shoving my focus from my goals and purposes.

Years ago, I saw an engraving done by the artist Martin Schongauer in 1480 called The Temptation of St. Anthony. It's a bit disturbing to see the numerous devils crawling across the Saint.

The power of the engraving, though, isn't in the demon's efforts; instead, it is on the face of St. Anthony. His face is absolutely calm. There is a war surrounding and involving him and his face shows nothing but peace.

Paul tells Timothy that God has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. The word "sound" is an emphasis on the wholeness and peacefulness of a heart focused on and filled with Christ. There are no promises that the distractions, delays, battles, and frustrations won't be there. In fact, quite the opposite is true -- we are promised difficulty after difficulty. But what we are given is not ease of life circumstances; we are given peace, soundness, and focus in the midst. These are not
randomly acquired attributes; they are the natural result of a life lived in the midst of Christ-- engaged and focused on Him.

So, today, to have focus in my life, I focus on Him-- and I find the noise is nothing more than gnats, the problem's of life nothing more than a faint sound against the backdrop of His loud presence.

One minute prayers

I try to avoid a sense of absolute rush in my daily schedule. I don't usually succeed. The faster the day goes, the more often I rely on pure emotion to drive me through to the end. I've learned a few re-orienting actions that can allow my decisions to be guided by thought rather than emotion. Near the end of the day, this is critical -- especially before I go home to greet my family. It's sad, but I often come home on edge and my boys feel my stress when they shouldn't at all.

The greatest re-orienting action is a one-minute prayer every half hour or so. Not much time. Not much effort. But pausing to stop, reflect on God's goals for the day and me, and to thank him for the small hints in life (all in sixty seconds) is an amazing refresher. Skip the rockstar energy drink (those things will kill you anyway). Just engage with Christ and then go on. You'll see your responses change and when that happens, your life changes. I go home calmer and purposeful, not dragging and angry. Sixty seconds. That's it. It took you longer to read this.

The Gift of Discipline

I had met with a group of parents recently and was talking on the need of discipline for children today. Parents, myself included, want to encourage creativity and freedom and we should do so. These abilities are natural to the human heart and will bloom when allowed the proper nourishment. However, another need that children of any age have, that enables those gifts to prosper, is the need for self-control and discipline. Freedom and creativity come natural but self-discipline is a gift only parents can give. Self-control isn't natural-- my five year old is a great example of that. Often the thing I tell him not to do is the thing he does. So, as a parent, if I want him to grow full and healthy, full of freedom and creativity, I must give him the gift of discipline-- a gift only delivered when done consistently. This is also a gift our heavenly father wants to give us. Just like my children resist this, we do the same. But it's still needed. Without discipline, we are unable to grow to our potential. Our talents will be drained and spent in needless areas. Crave discipline in your heart, crave spiritual disciplines so that you can grow to be who He means you to be.

Vacation

The June 2010 issue of Capital Culture comes out this Sunday.  The main article is written by Jody Vaughn, our high school pastor.  As a sneak peak to the magazine, here's part I of the article:

I was relaxing next to the pool under the shade.  We had just drenched our three kids in sunscreen (or as my kids call it, “Sun Scream”).  My son, Logan, was taking a nap, and decided I was the most comfortable bed he could find.   I looked across the pool at my two other kids.  Asher was splashing around and spitting water at Missy.  Jada, who had just learned to swim without her floaties, and was doing her best impression of Michael Phelps with my father-in-law coaching her along the way.  It was a gorgeous day outside-- the sun was out, light breeze and in the low 80’s.  It doesn’t get much prettier than that.  As I looked around I thought to myself, THIS IS THE LIFE!  A week of vacation with the family.  No one else.  Time away with my wife and kids; no emails, no phone calls, no meetings, no deadlines and no pressure.  THIS IS WHERE ITS AT!  And the week proved to be just that.  We had a blast.  One of the best vacations we have ever had as a family.   It was simple.  We didn’t do a whole lot other than swimming, sleeping, and hanging out in our rooms.  But our family came back rejuvenated, excited about life, and a whole lot closer. 

I wish I could spend every day on vacation, but I’m sure my kids do like having food on the table and enjoying sleeping in a house, so at some point I had to come back to the real world.  

Growing up, my family was of meager means, and we didn’t get to go on a lot of trips, or go to a lot of theme parks, and we definitely didn’t spend extended time on any tropical resorts.  We didn’t take a lot of time together on vacations.  So, I never grasped the importance of what that time could mean.  My wife’s family, on the other hand, took vacations yearly, and spent time on a consistent basis getting away together, and having several days devoted to just spending large amounts of carefree timelessness.   And so that mentality has made it’s way into our family.  And, this year, for the first time I grasped the importance of having that alone time.  We came back from our vacation energized, excited about life and felt more connected than ever as a family.  I loved that week, and will always cherish it. 

One of my favorite things to do on vacation is reading.  And one of the things I found I love to do is read the word and spend time praying.  I think it is the lack of schedule and the lack of busy-ness that allows me to really connect with Jesus.  It seems my times on vacation are relaxed.  I’m not pressured to hurry up and get on my day.  Jesus and I have some great times on vacation.  And I wonder why I don’t spend enough time like this when I’m home, almost a vacation with God.  Not a week-long get away just to pray.  But taking those elements of a vacation:  aloneness, lack of distractions, carefree timelessness, focus and rest. 

continued tomorrow

Friday: The Life You've Always Wanted

So we're at the end of our six week focus, The Life You've Always Wanted.  Where are you in the daily training of spiritual disciplines?  Have you moved closer to that eternal blueprint that God has for you?  What are the disciplines you struggle with the most?  Which don't seem to be difficult at all for you?  Give us some feedback!