Letting Go of the Chisel (Controls)

 So, yesterday one of my interns from this summer, who is currently in the Bronx, sent me a link to a video that she thought would be beneficial for me.  She had seen my resolutions posted as my facebook cover photo and though this skit kinda went along with it. After watching it 3 times I was inspired by a few sections of the script and wanted to record/share my thoughts about them all.  The link is here for you to watch first if you wish. http://skitguys.com/videos/item/gods-chisel-2008

Each section will begin with the text followed by my commentary.  Hopefully, what I am saying it clear and makes sense.

Eddie(as God):  Alright, are you going to talk or can I chisel? Which is it going to be- talk, chisel, talk, chisel?

Tommy: No, no, no, no! Chisel!

Eddie: Most of my children like to talk.

Tommy: Not me. Bring on the chisel!

 To everyone that wants God to be in control, comes the doubt of giving up ALL of ourselves to God and stopping to listen.  During times of change we want to talk to God, give him advice of where to chisel, and be the leader of the forming into his masterpiece.  Instead, we should have a conversation with Him, one that is two-way. Conversation involves talking, listening, and silence as responses are formulated. Sometimes, we just need to let God do His think while we are flexible and mailable for His work.

Eddie: Here we go. You have a lot of anger (he hammers the chisel on Tommy’s

arm then begins to move slowly around behind him), and some pride

(he chisels again on his back), you compare yourself to others instead of

me (he chisels again on his back)…

Tommy: Ow…

Eddie: …you’re lazy (moving to the other side Eddie chisels again on Tommy’s

back), but you pretend like you’re really, really busy (he chisels again),

you have a problem with lust…

Tommy: Okay, time out! I do not have a problem with lust.

Eddie: You don’t have a problem with lust?

Tommy: No, I can do it anytime I want (beat; realizing he has a problem). Okay.

(Eddie starts to begin again) Whoa, whoa hang on. Maybe we can take a

little time out. I mean, I think I’m doing pretty good.

 

I have realized that I often like God to work in the areas that I want to admit that I have trouble with, but the areas that temptation is either too personal, or I feel that I can easily control, I would rather deal with myself. I would rather deal with them on a personal level and not ask others to pray for what could hurt my pride by admitting I have trouble with. When other believers want to truly uphold us in prayer, it is important that we be vulnerable and humbly ask them to pray for our most hidden need. Rather that trying to "take a little time out" and closing ourselves in a bubble of self-righteousness, open up to God (and mentors/other Christians) and allow God to work no matter the cost to our self(ishness).

Eddie: You are doing pretty good, but when you look in the mirror who do you

see?

Tommy: I see me!

Eddie: Okay. Then I need to keep chiseling away, because ultimately you and

others need to see me. Here we go!

Tommy: Okay, hold on. Don’t take this the wrong way…it’s just that when I start

to look more like your Son, people get uncomfortable around me. Even

my friends at church are like “oh you’re holier than thou, why won’t you

do that?”

Eddie: So what you’re doing right now is that you’d rather play God in certain

areas of your life than for me to be God over your whole life.

Tommy: I did not say that.

 

We should want to reflect the light of Christ (loving, caring, and helping others), for two reasons.

1.  To submit to the authority of God in our lives and listen to the Holy Spirit's leading.
2. So that others will see his working and be drawn to Him.

Even if we are not accepted by others because of a "holier than thou" perception, we need to allow God to work in our lives, guiding our hearts and minds to a better way.  We need to hide ourselves and give up the pride we may have stored up and used as a wall of false protection from the uncomfortable.  God never promised a life of ease (he did promise comfort and that his "yoke is easy"), instead he said that his followers should expect trouble on every side, struggles, and tribulations.  Letting go may be the hardest part at first, but growing takes pain and struggle, (ie teenage years) that may seem like a burden.  Allowing this chiseling will mend brokenness and healing that will strengthen us.  God is mightier than us, God is the restorer of others, God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  He is infinite; we are not.  We should want others to see Him in us, and as John the Baptist said He shall become greater, and I shall become less.  Let him be in control, stop making choices and let him lead your entire life.

Eddie: What you’re doing right now is common. It’s called “controlling”. You

want to control the things in your life or can I chisel? Control, chisel,

control, chisel?

Tommy: No, no! Chisel!

Eddie: Here we go.

Tommy: But can we chisel where I want to chisel?

Eddie: That’s called control.

Tommy: Okay, okay.

Eddie: (He starts to chisel again) You’ve been holding onto this for a long time.

You ready for this?

 

Still, there are times, that we want to take back control.  It is time to instead surrender more, because as we age, more temptations come, more troubles arise, and difficulties increase.  God will be faithful to those who allow to work and remove all the dead weight that we have attached or allowed to grow on us.  We must ask him to be all for us, not just all about us.  Let him control the chisel, the potter's wheel, and measure our progress.  Opening our lives and looking for opportunities to glorify God, to serve others, and to be an example of Him. 
But if we have hidden wrongs and sins...this may be harder.  However, when we give everything to Him, it will be easier in the end.

Tommy: Okay. Chisel away. (Eddie begins to chisel again) Just be prepared for

what you’re going to find in there. I know who’s inside there. And

because, God, I get up every morning and I look in the mirror and it is

this scared little kid who gets up everyday and tries to dress like an adult

and act like an adult, but can’t. So just be prepared for what you’re

going to find in there.

 

We need to not be scared of what God will find.  He knows what is best for us.  Six thousand years ago he created a perfect world in six days.  He did an indescribable thing then, and since he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He still will do indescribable things now too.  God can perfect us to his likeness, to his image, so even if we think we can NOT do something he calls us to do; we should know that He will equip us for the task he calls us for.  He knows what is going on in our heads, our hearts, and our whole being, we do not have to warn God.  Instead, we should apologize for trying to be in control and confess that we need the change he plans for us. We need to have faith that he will do what is best for us. 

When this happens, we will not have to worry. Our thoughts can become His thoughts, our ways will become His ways, and Our hearts will feel what His heart does.  We can have a complete conformation and become what he desired in the first place.

God will make us a new creation, his prefect original design, when we declare that He is Lord of our life and Lord of all things we think, say, or do.  It is that easy....

 

I am Resolved to be Resolute

Well...Merry New Year.

New of course as usual being the operative word that seems to be in almost every one of my posts.  It is like I am stuck to new and not going about moving forward to reach my goals that were set about six months ago.  Not that this is necessarily true, but it at least appears to me that I am not achieving the newness that I desire as fast as I would like.

Surely "good things come to those who wait"  and "old habits die hard", but that is not the way of the proactive lifestyle that I desire.  Yes, patience is a virtue, and patience is becoming of everyone, but that does not make my longing to change be any less potent. Nor does it change the fact that "idle hands are the devil's playthings (or workshop)".  Since I have ventured on my own, and into my personal apartment, that seems to hold very true, especially because I never really made a plan to complete my goal.

I just reacted to things that came along.  I went to church, then went home and enjoyed FaceBook and the musings of commentators discussing live games of football (or the ESPN gamecast).  I would pray, half-heartedly.  I would barely touch the scriptures, unless I was looking to refute a statement that someone else made.  I want to say that I followed God's Word, but I can certainly say that I did NOT even live up to my own expectations, let alone God's. I witnessed for Him, sure...but it was a toned-down effort that was not enough to really count for much.  I mean it surely was not getting me closer to my main goal.

Instead my "free time" found me enjoying videos and tv episodes online, especially after working from 3-11. ( I don't have a tv or cable.)  I mean I do enjoy the nuances of plots and attempting to figure out what comes next.  I did read books like Lord of the Rings and followed the news, as well, I just spent way too much time on the other. The analytics keep my brain active and attentive...but not in achieving my goals. 

However, it took me forever (3 months...haha) to come to the realization that I was again waiting for things to happen and the good things to come as I waited.  Didn't happen, period.  I still have my wishes and desires that I dispassionately inquire God for an answer. Which for some odd reason weren't answered.  (Insert failed attempt at sarcasm here).  Therefore, with the New Year coming, and the prompting  of the age-old practice of creating resolutions arriving, I knew it was time to create the steps to complete the task of reaching my goals, successfully.

Thanks to family who prompted me and friends who advised me, I was able to come up with a list of things that benefited my daily life by directing changes to physical, spiritual, and mental parts.  I worded them into simple, yet succinct, statements that are easy to remember and helpful to my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  After each is a reason for each or a motivating point that will enforce each goal.  I made them into a poster-sized word doc and printed a few out, created a jpeg, and even made it my cover photo on FaceBook.  If I am not constantly reminded of the need to proactively address my need for change I am not sure what else I can do and not over do it.  This is the first time I took the initiative to do something this poignant.  These are not, however; the traditional New Year's Resolutions that are to be forgotten after the first week--although, I have not done a great job thus far--they will be LIFE goals and steps toward my personal reformation.  So without further ado I will reveal them here (if anyone wants they can randomly call me out and keep me accountable to my promises):

 

 

 

 

Coincidentally...today at Mowersville (church), Pastor mentioned that this week is Prayer and Fasting week in our BiC church as a whole.  It is time that I truely remove all things holding me back and confess to God those sins that are keeping me from clearly hearing Him, as a result of my stint in the Devil's Workshop.  I am going to give up my lunch time for God, each day, and finally break free of the negatives that have continued to hold me back, even after the first week of July.

I am Resolved to be Resolute.

Joeyb

A New Christmas Time

On this very white Christmas Day,

I would like to take time to say

Some things about this time of year.

Wishing ‘specially for those to be near,

That make me feel special in ev’ry way.

Christ should be celebrated for he came

To call us, each one, by name,

And bring to all a kind of cheer

That unites us all from there to here,

In a way which should bring Him great fame.

We must remember that He is the reason

For which we celebrate this season.

Blocking out all the distractions:

All the commercial and worldly action.

Recalling instead peace joy and hoping.

Of all these and His virgin birth fortold

By each of the prophets of old.

So my friend, welcome Him to your home

And be not afraid of change that comes.

For it may make you brave, strong, and bold.

During the holiday celebrations,

Always including, without hesitations,

Mention of Jesus, Joseph and Mary,

The shepherds and angels, and all the story

That glorifies the King of all Creation.

So when with family and friends,

Please take some time to spend

This Christmas season and pause—

Forgetting the gifts from Santa Claus—

Telling the Story of Jesus from beginning to end

Show to the world, that is lost,

A message of Christ from birth to the Cross:

Singing Carols, helping others, and giving your all

To bring joy to others—going beyond the call.

Be an example no matter the cost.

Have a Merry Christmas and a wondrous

New Year which you embrace marvelous

Goals in your heart, soul, and mind.

Becoming more peaceful and kind;

Acting out Jesus’ Love and living the miraculous.

You Are My Guests

I was asked to ghost-write for this blog (http://payitforwardshipu.blogspot.com/ ) about three weeks ago, and as inspired as I was, I could not write something that made sense, or that could accurately convey my thoughts.  Yet as I continue to play this scene in my mind, I am convinced that I must share an analysis of it.

 

 

 

Watch this clip; in it you will see how we as Americans should be ashamed of how we do not help others in need.  If you have never seen The Amazing Race, understand that it is a game show type program that pits teams to two against each other in a “race around the world.”  During the race the last teams to arrive at checkpoints are eliminated and teams must complete tasks that require money to get there (i.e. plane tickets, taxi rides, purchasing food etc.). They are all given money per each leg to spend as best they can.

 

Prior to this scene (you can watch the episode to discover this), two teams conspire to steal money to give these two men a disadvantage.  While I am not justifying their strategy, it was brilliantly contrived to “get ahead” and would have probably knocked these men out of the race, if the people on the streets of Bangladesh would not have helped them.  Notice how they help, they are not coerced, they are not reluctant, they just ask if the men need help. Not only that but one man said this (which has stuck with me since the episode aired), as they were thanking him:  “No, problem, No problem…This is my country and you are my guests.”  This action should not surprise us, but somehow it does.  Maybe this will change our opinions of those who are not like us.  As the taxi driver put it, “Bangladesh, good not bad.”

 

What if we acted like this man from Bangladesh and treated strangers, as our guests?  What if we were motivated by seeing a need and just doing something about it because we see the need?  Guests are those to whom we extend hospitality, kindness, and often part of our wealth.  However, we as Americans usually extend hospitality only to those who can be generous to us in return; not to those who cannot.  We must change this idealism and defenestrate it.  Let us instead be as the gentleman from Bangladesh and make the world a better place by paying it forward.  My suggestion would be to read the suggestions listed on that blog, pick someone, and do whatever deed(s) from the list that will make them feel like an honored guest.  Perhaps there reaction will be like that of the racers:  pure, simple gratitude.

Challenge Accepted? (to be better)

So over a month ago I posted a challenge.  It was not just for the readers of this blog. or those who heard the sermon, but it was also meant to be a personal challenge.  I took it as such, at least at first...


Since then I have admittedly tried to do it if all of my life and was successful for a week or so.  However due to the fact that I did not have musch self-discipline, I was not as successful as I wanted to be.  I have applied this challenge more to the broad occurances in my life (my job, my loans, and the rest).  God has been faithful in that getting me an unlikely full-time job, finding appartment furnature under resale, and reducing my loans (pending documentation).  He provided as I asked "What Would Jesus Do?", yet what I have not done is applied the question to or accepted the challenge for myself or my personal (spiritual) side.  This is the core of the problem:  I have not been exhibiting Ferocious Fearlessness.


This is the only way the challenge will work:  Pray, Go to church, Read God's Word, Obey God's Word, and Witness to others.  I remember this from my days as a Summer Missionary with CEF.  I just have not fully put it into practice.  I need to be more fearless in showing my faith, more fearless in living my life for Him no matter what is said of me, and I must fully rely on God. I still have things to confess, things to give to Him, and things to give up (especially from the past).  I thought I had given it all up a few months ago, but it continues to haunt me.

I must move forward with the personal challenge, and perhaps if you are having trouble with this challenge...accept that you must change yourself first.  IF you cannot change yourself, no change can come to the World.  We need to have Christ be the Savior of our lives, and the Holy Spirit be the changer...  When we allow this to happen we can successfully complete the challege.

For now I must accept the personal challenge...prayers are needed.  Especially if I must move forward to be successful.

What Would Jesus Do? (A Challenge)

If you were alive in the 1990s you probably remember the bracelets that were popular long before LiveStrong, and no, I am not talking about the snap bracelets either.  What I am talking about is WWJD (or spelled out in the title "What Would Jesus Do?).  This phenomenon and movement in that period was dedicated to the idea of Christians asking themselves that question every day of their lives, in order to reflect the life and attitude of Christ.  At least that is how I would describe it.  Further reading of Wikipedia provides a more succinct description:

The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1990s and as a personal motto for adherents of Evangelical Christianity who used the phrase as a reminder of their belief in a moral imperative to act in a manner that would demonstrate the love of Jesus through the actions of the adherents.

 Now if that is not a challenge to the church of today, I am not really sure what is.  However if that statement does not meet a defined challenge, dear reader, then I offer you the challenge that was proposed to me by a guest speaker at my home church earlier this month.  Our former pastor came back to speak and I entitled the sermon "Overcoming Spiritual Aches and Pains:  Growing a Healthy Church and Lifestyle" (by I entitled I mean I was in the sound booth and he didn't have one listed so I gave it a fitting title).

This sermon reflected on how to become a healthy church (and more personally-spiritually).  Surely churches must grow and have people there, but it is NOT the number that matters, rather it is the action of love and following moral imperatives laid out by the life of Jesus.  The challenge was this:  Read the book, What Would Jesus Do?, and find out how it challenges you personally.  Look for ways to find a personal motto to devote your live to following Jesus according to the application of his life to ours, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

I accepted this challenge (and you should too.)  I ordered the book and read it more out of curiosity then true desire to expect change.  But boy, has it changed my attitude toward daily life. (If you have read my blog before (It's Gone) you know that I promised change to God to allow Him to work in me.)  But this helps my steps to move forward, faster...In the book, a challenge is given to the people of the church to live life and make decisions by first (really and truthfully) asking "What Would Jesus Do?" and supporting the decisions with prayer.  They would report weekly on what God did because of the decision and interact with other Christians to encourage them in to continue in the challenge.  This is to apply to major life decisions, minor choices, and even the smallest insignificant detail.  This does not have to just be and individual (person-to God) relationship, but can be a person-to-person, person-to-group (church), and group-to-God. The bonding fellowship of others that are following this pattern helps, but it can be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

After reading this book (and sharing it with my sister and aunt) I have been even more challenged to stay on track with my promises to God. My growth has been crazy since the beginning of July, but viewing my life in this manner has challenged my attitude toward following the lifestyle of Jesus and being a  healthy Christian and not just the laid-back kind.  I have begun to adhere to that practice, first through positive thinking and second by asking this question with my decisions.  I should follow the clear picture of Christ and the example that he set for us:  love others, love God, and serve Him in every capacity.  Soon I will be living on my own, and building my own life, (don't ask when) but I know that I want to do these things to become healthy and overcome the pain of not living for God in the way that I should.  Yes, it is my duty to ask this question, but that is for now, for when I am growing again after I have been pruned (John 15:2).  This new growth is being watered and fed through the message from this book and has inspired me onward.

My challenge to you is to read What Would Jesus Do?, or its predecessor, In His Steps, in order to understand the fullness of this challenge listen to the sermon below first and it will help you understand what my mere words could not describe. (If I can attach it..)  Once you read, follow the challenge that was given to the parishioners of the church in the book, you may be surprised at the results.  I know that I have been thus far. I just have to get better at it; that will come as I grow.  (If  you want you can comment with your thoughts and experiences.)

Let's start the movement again, but instead of just wearing it on our wrists, or other apparel, we should actually practice asking the question daily:  "What Would Jesus Do?"

A CONVERSATION WITH GOD!

In time you will reveal no patterns.
I pray that I may be risky for you, God
I want to become Others centered. That I would walk as in a psalm
My lifestyle must be your glory.
Remove images of evil.
My mind needs your stength to care for needs of others.
May we fight the sinful nature with words of God and prayers.
May your will be done daily. May we remind others of you.
May I be what you desire me to be.

Amen