Trash Talk

This morning I was reading in Revelation.  Now, this is not my favorite book, but since I am reading the New Testament, it is kind of hard to avoid.  I guess it is just kind of intimidating.  Revelation is such a visual book and it seems like a fantasy.  As I read about what appears to be the end of the world (at least that is what it seems to me) I start feeling this sense of urgency to make sure I am living right.  I mean, the way we as humans live, especially Americans, seems to be so far outside of what God wants for us.  This country was founded on religious freedom, but now we can't pray in public schools.  We can't have any religious symbols on public property.  The vocal minority walks all over the rights of Christians every day.  Although this seems to be a political statement, that is not my intention.  This is by far, a spiritual statement.  
I think we all would agree that one day we will all die.  Where our disagreements come from is what happens once we are dead.  As a Christian, I believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with God.  If you don't live your life according to God's will, then to be absent from the body would have to mean you are present with Satan.  Those are our only two choices.  An eternity in paradise or an eternity of torment (those are God's words, not mine.)
Jesus told the rich young ruler in the book of Matthew that just being good and following the rules your whole life is not good enough. EVERYONE breaks a rule at some point in time.  No one can follow all the rules all the time.  We just don't have it in us.  But.......what fees us from this weakness is to drop everything and follow Jesus.  Develop a relationship with Him.  To develop that relationship, you have to get to know Him.  To get to know him, all you have to do is read his book and talk to him.  Most of us already read and talk so why is it that most folks avoid reading the Bible and talking to Him (until they really need Him anyway.)
Why is it that we hold on so tightly to "stuff," either physical or emotional that we are unable to embrace Him? 
 Picture, if you will, wrapping your arms around a giant bag of trash.  For some reason, almost all of us hold onto this giant bag of trash.  Some of us never put it down, some of us put it down for a little while and then feel the need to pick it up again.  It is physically impossible to embrace Jesus while you are hugging your bag of trash.  What is in that bag is different for everyone.  It might be physical trash (toys, cars, houses, money) or it may be emotional trash (I'm not good enough, I've done bad things, I still do bad things.)  If you are like me, your bag of trash has a bit of both in there.  The only way to rid yourself of all the trash is to let God take it from you.  
I read a verse this morning that sort of adds a sense of urgency to it:


2 Peter 3:9   "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."


Now patience is a good thing.  I wish I had more of it.  Although, sooner or later, even the most patient person, runs out.

One Degree

It has been about 3 weeks since my last post.  I am embarrassed.  I have let life take me over......again.  I started my reading program back in January and did great for several months.  Then, life started to creep in.  It's not like I fell away from my faith, Satan is too smart for that.  He just let the business of life start slowly creeping in.  He knew he could not hit me all at once, I would see that coming.  "First, let's get him busy at work.  If I can get him stressed out at work, he will believe that he needs a break.  A break for Kevin means time alone.  If I can get him alone, I can get him away from God."  Satan is very smart.  He even used God to keep me away from God. "What?" you ask, "How is that even possible?"  I'll tell you how.  I spent last weekend speaking at a youth camp.  This is something I truly love doing.  I spent so much time preparing, that I had no time for just me and God.  So many hours spent looking up scripture and memorizing skits, that my relationship with God started taking a back seat.  When I got back from camp, back to the reality of life, I felt overwhelmed.
This morning I sat down and started studying the New Testament again.  This will be the second time this year I have read it through.  Guess who I met?  Yup, Jesus.  He was in there just waiting for me.  He did not get upset with me, he just welcomed me back.
Does the daily grind of life take you over and ensure that you stay off track.  I know I fall prey to that all too often.  The traps of the devil are real, and he is smart.  He knows that if he can steer you off course by just 1 degree, by the time you get down the road, you will be so far off course that it will take all your energy to get back.  Stay on course, my friends.  One degree is all it takes.

Scream

Do you ever feel like screaming?  I just want to explode.  But I can't.  I have to maintain my composure because I am a husband, father, employee, a Christian and every other obligation and responsibility I have.  Who do you go to when you feel that way?.  Friends don't really want to hear it, your kids should not hear it, people at work just don't care.  Who is left?  Your bartender, I guess, if you have one.  Life is stressful.  Why?  One would think that life should be easy.  Find someone that you love, have a few kids work for 30 years or so and then retire.  One lucky day it will all be over and I will finally meet Jesus.  I can't wait to take a walk with my Grandpa Steenbergen.  I never saw him walk unassisted.  I look forward to meeting my grandpa Bundy.  I don't remember him at all.  Until then, I just have to keep plugging away in this world wondering who will listen to me scream.  God.  That's right, God will listen to me scream.  When it comes down to it, he is the only one who cares and the only one that can do anything about it.  Why then, is he the last one we go to.  There just seems to be something wrong with the idea of getting mad at God.  He gave me life, I should at least always be polite to him. I think God understands that we get frustrated.  I think he also understands that we created this mess, we have to deal with it.  Deal with it.