Faith Revolution

Here is one:  Caleb + a Remington 700, 7mm-08 + pap’s reloads + some good friends = success!

 Click on thumbnail to view My Corner!

“One that reckoneth accounts all the day passeth not a happy moment. One that gladdeneth his heart all the day provideth not for his house.”       ~ Ptahhoptep

Lest you think that my life consists of constant work, deep thinking, cynicism and ranting, I want you to know that I know how to have fun, too!  The picture above is of my little corner.  In every house we have lived in, Linda has allowed me to have a corner.  Not a large one, mind you, but a corner nonetheless.  Linda likes to comment occasionally how much stuff or junk I have (I am a reforming pack rat, especially after the most recent move) but then, bless her heart, she only allows me a little corner of the house in which to keep all my stuff. 

I like my corner.  I can keep it neat if I want or I can keep it cluttered which is the way it usually is.  It is where I am sitting right now.  I have public radio on in the background.  The styles of music they play tends to keep the kids away.  I am surrounded with my outdoor and shooting equipment.  My firearms are here.  I have just finished experimenting with some loads for my TC Contender 7-30 Waters.  My camera is here.  My hiking and hunting equipment is here.  All the stuff I love.  I feel content here.  I feel blessed here.  I can think, read, tinker or do nothing here.  I am having fun.

Tomorrow, actually today, is Thanksgiving.  I get to have fun with my family.  The plan is that we are going to cook Thanksgiving dinner together.  I know what some of you are thinking, but, remember, I said plan.  No matter, I get to spend the entire day with my favorite people.  Talk about fun! 

So, no, my life is not entirely defined by my work, although I consider my work fun also.  My life is defined by much more than my rants and philosophical discussions.  My life is fun. 

I hope yours is too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was visiting with a dear lady from our church (the people not the building) today whom I just met recently.  We were sharing different life stories as we got more aquainted with each other.  Of course, the subject eventually turned to the upcoming holidays.  She shared with me part of an article from a newsletter that encouraged the reader to show thankfulness to God, not just for what He does, but simply for Who He is.

That brought another thought to my head.  When I compare Christianity in America to Christianity in other countries, I have to confess that I think that we have become a bunch of spoiled rotten brats.  Christian religion has become a huge self-help business.  Walk through the local Christian book store and look at the titles.  It’s all about fixing me and my miserable life. 

Excuse me for living, but I really like my life.  If that sounds arrogant to you, I am not sorry because if you are a follower of Jesus, then you should like your life too.  Quit bellyaching.

But there is another serious issue here.  That issue is that the Christian church in America has come to the point of preserving an institution and preserving ourselves while the unchurched die and go to hell.  While we are “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” people are dying.  We won’t risk the safety of the institution to reach out to people.  We huddle in our little groups in a nice brick building across the street from a house containing people wasting their lives on drugs.  We go to our small group meetings in a home across the street from a bar where people are desperately seeking meaning and significance.  We circle the wagons to preserve and protect ourselves from that awful world out there.

Which brings me back to my origional point.  We are so caught up in being “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” that we forget our God-given mission:  to be the body of Christ and to die for a lost world.  To often we find ourselves sitting around waiting for God to tell us what to do when - He - already - has!  Read the Bible.  I dare you.

Beyond that we should be willing to take risks for the sake of Jesus simply because of Who He is; not only because of what He has done for us.  He is worthy of our lives and all we are simply because He is worthy.

It reminds me of a verse that I absolutely love:  1 Samuel 14:6 (CSB)  Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

Perhaps the Lord will help us?  Perhaps the Lord will help us?  Are you kidding me?  Christians in America won’t take a step forward unless God can absolutely convince us that it is His will, provides more than adequate funding, waits for committee and denominational hierarchy approval and writes it in the sky for good measure.  Oh yeah, and we can’t have old Mrs. Jones complaining either.  We base our discernment of God’s will on who will complain.

Wouldn’t it be cool to go to a church committe meeting and agree to sacrifice and take a major risk to reach the lost or serve our community simply because Jesus is worthy, whether or not He helps us? 

I think it would be great.

When you feel God’s presence in yourself, your family, your home, your church and your community, how can you avoid worshipping Him?

It’s going to be a great day!

“How quickly we forget what it’s all about. We can get so strategic that we worship so our church will grow, not because He is worthy. But we’re doing all this because God is worthy and we want to worship Him.”      ~ Tommy Walker