An Awesome God

I can’t believe how long its been since I’ve blogged! This post is going to be me kind of rambling, but here I go!

I recently read Job 38, (which is a really awesome passage that you should read if you haven’t yet!) and it hit me that the God who tells the ocean where to stop, the sun when to rise, and the rain when to fall, is the same God who’s a part of my life and cares about my day-to-day stuff that seems so silly compared to His greatness. In school, I’m taking an apologetics class, and we’re studying religions that view God as an impersonal, distant, and aloof being. I know that the opposite to be true, and I think it’s so awesome that I can know the God in Job 38, and He cares about me and is involved in my seemingly insignificant life. But then I think how dumb it is for me to constantly think that “I can take care of this myself” and “I know what I’m doing”, when God’s resume way over-qualifies Him to take care of me, which is what He really wants to do. Sometimes I want to just “fix” situations and take care of them, instead of talking to God about it.

And there are people in my life right now who are sick, going through divorce, are struggling at school and with friends, etc., and I wish I could do something about it. I like immediate solutions, instant gratification, stuff like that, and sometimes its hard for me to just stop and pray for others and myself, when sometimes that’s all I can do. But in knowing that God is such a personal God, and seeing in Job 38 how incredibly huge and capable He is, I’ve been realizing how ignorant I am and that I really can trust Him with everything. I’m really glad about that, because if it were all up to me, I’d probably end up breaking even more the things I try to fix. I’m finding that there’s incredible freedom in handing things over to God and letting Him take care of me and my life. God is continuing to help me trust and give things over to Him; I’m in super-capable hands!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5&6

Hayley

Half Price Teeth…

 

 

The Tooth Fairy pays half price for teeth with cavities in our house.  Non-molars with cavities go for $0.50 instead of a buck, and molars with cavities are reduced to $2.50.

 

Of course, I pay the dentist full price to “extract” the teeth first…

 

Teeth that are clean = full price; teeth that are dirty/rotten = half price.

 

Makes me think of other rotten things that have been purchased by another.  Things that were bad/dirty/rotten/gross but were still purchased.  Makes me wonder why someone would pay full price for the rejects when they could surely get it for half price.  Makes me curious what would motivate someone to even go to the “store” to buy rotten/broken/dirty/nasty/good-for-nothing items.

 

Rom 5:8   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

 

Do you have any cavities?

I changed the site a bit…

Hey there, I changed the blog just a tad a few days ago, because of some feed back I got.  I got an unsolicited email from someone that had looked at the blog.  It was saying stuff like, “why aren’t you doing this?” and “you seemed in turmoil”.  

 

 

Hey Ben…

Sorry for being a while getting back to you…. off with flu and well…. busy life.

Anyway… by all means post our dialogue.

I did not detect that it was a guest posting on your site regarding Judgement.  I was indeed agreeing that judging is wrong.  I believe we can judge behaviours and circumstances but not people.  The more I live, the more I recognize the power of what Jesus taught and lived.  And all of this learning is happening outside of church.  Not that it can’t happen in church. Just my path is outside for the time being.

I am intrigued by celebrate recovery.  There is a regular meeting in my home town that I have just learned about.  I am anticipating attending soon.

My issue with churchy people and the 12 steps is that I have been on the receivng end of a lot of ignorant judgement lately…. and in the past as well.  Including by a leader of a Teen Challenge centre who mocked and belittled the 12 steps yet his centre was a farce as far as helping people get clean and sober.

I am sure lots of people take stray tangents with the 12 steps but that does not stop those of us who apply them as a practical expression of the Bible to do so in our walk as believers.  Anything can be corrupted.  Christianity is frequently corrupted but extreme sects and cults.  Anyway….

Will dialogue more …. will make some time this week.

Ciao

Chaz

 

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:41 PM, Benjamin Smith <benjamindsmith@mac.com> wrote:

Chaz,

Brother,

I think I mistook your email.  I just visited your site and spent a few minutes browsing.  I can safely say you’re definitely better written than I expected.  

Again, thanks for the time, and your comments.  I’ll see if I can clean up my blog, so it’ll make more sense.  It’s a first for me.  

Thanks,

Ben

 

Then I read his blog and sent the following…

 

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 10:28 PM, Benjamin Smith <benjamindsmith@mac.com> wrote:

Hey Chaz,

Thanks for the mail, I appreciate the time it took.

And, well, I read your email and I am now thoroughly confused as well.  What if you write me back, with examples of what your talking about, so that I can speak to each one specifically.

Gigantic first of all, I’m dreaming people will comment.  The only exception, is the “step 5″ post.  That’s not a blog, but a page on my blog, meant as a testament.  I went first, with my step 5, and as the page explains, if others would like to participate, that’s awesome.  I don’t want the page to turn into a “we’re so glad you’re doing good”, and have it end up being about me, instead of Jesus working in me.  So, the “step 5″ page is just for people that want to confess their sins.  In order to moderate that most efficiently, because i’ve got multiple authors on the site, I will be go-between to post stuff on that page.

Secondly, the post titled “Do Not Judge…” was written by one of my contributors, a 15 year old girl.  I was totally excited by the fact that she was able to get the fact that she’s been judging and that it’s wrong, while she was studying through James.  Totally excited.  I’m not sure if you’re agreeing with her, and me, by saying that judging is wrong, or that you misunderstood Ray and thought she was condoning it.

Thirdly, I would love to talk to you further about some of the things you mentioned.  Swearing, profanity, blasphemy, people thinking that if they get rid of the “verbal” sins then they’re good.  HAHAHA…  

I’m not sure what experience you have with Celebrate Recover, a 12 step program, but it’s the most Christ centered “things” I’ve ever been able to attend.  If I miss-represented it, I apologize.  Dude, seriously, CR is awesome.  Not sure why it would sadden you that I have been successful in my recovery, while leaning solely upon the strength Jesus gives me, and receiving fellowship from people that love me despite it all.

So, this has been awesome Chaz.  You’re the first to contact me so far.  And again, I appreciate the time it took to put your email together.  If I have cleared anything up for you that’s cool.  If you’re still not understandinging, reply and we’ll go through it further.

I can be reached in AIM too, using benjamindsmith@mac.com, if you’d like to IM.  A little quicker on the response time.  I’ve been painting the house with my wife tonight, so it’s kinda late already.

Also, If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love to post our conversation as well.

Thanks,

Ben

 

On Mar 26, 2009, at 9:19 PM, Chaz wrote:

Hey Ben…. I go by Chaz,

I read through you blog somewhat.  I dont get what you are trying to do or say.  But you kinda seem in a bit of turmoil.

If you want your blog to be a ministry, why wouldnt you want comment dialogue?  That is one way blogs get read when others see that others have read and commented.  Anyway… it is entirely up to you but it just kinda stood out to me.

I read your post on Judgement.  To me, I find it a paradox that judgement is so frequent and accepted in the wester modern christian culture.  I refer to it as one of the “acceptable vices”.  Smoking and swearing are out, but judgement is open territory. 

Yet Jesus was pretty clear that judgement was one of the most un-graceful things we could do.  And very much what he came to give an alternative to.  Jesus exemplified tolerance and acceptance of others.  Even those who persecuted and harmed him.

Yet there is very little reference made to swearing and your average Christian in my experience is quick to jump on that behaviour and not judgement.

I guess the subject of Judgement is on my mind as I am bothered right now by a lot of judgement by what I feel are ignorant Christians judging people in 12 step programs.  Long story.  Another time.  But I see them on these blogs and it bothers me.  Saddens me.

Anyway…. for me, I am looking for something different in my “Church” experience than what I have experienced at established mainline churches.  I believe God will show up in some pretty amazing and seemingly unlikely places. 

Anyway…. my blog is www.yuppieaddict.wordpress.com

Will cross paths again I am sure.

Ciao.

Chaz

Amazing Love!

Although I’ve been a “Christian” my whole life I never really knew the meaning of the word. When I moved to Eustis I began going to Calvary Chapel of the Lakes, and I finally found God.

I remember my first Sunday there; I sat with Ben, Marissa, and Ray in the 2nd to last row in the YMCA gym. I was in awe of the worship team and had never heard such a sound. The 3rd or 4th song that they played was titled “Amazing Love” by: Chris Tomlin. As the words scrolled across the screen and Pastor Doug’s voice rang loudly in my ears it literally brought me to tears.

This songs begins with “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken, I’m accepted, you were condemned.”

This hit home with me, I had never thought of Jesus this way before. It made me realize that he really is all forgiving, and he’ll love you no matter what you do. God has an everlasting love for you and he gave his only son for us.

“I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me, because you died and rose again.”

While listening to this I had an epiphany… God is always with us through all our trials and tribulations, he’s there. I feel him every where I go and knowing that he’s watching over me is the most comforting feeling in the world.

“Amazing love, How can it be, that you my king, would die for me?”

I think about how Jesus suffered for us and I feel so self-centered and pathetic when I complain about the small things in life when I should be giving God the glory he deserves.

“Amazing love, I know it’s true. it’s my joy to honor you, in all I do, I honor you.”

We walk the streets everyday barely showing that were Christians unless we were it on our shirts. God knows it, but does everyone else? Sometimes I feel ashamed to not show my faith but in reality I’m just an everyday citizen and no one knows who I am but the ones close to me. God wants us to put who we are out there!

Lex