Payback

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing

- 1 Peter 3:9 (TNIV) [emphasis mine]

I read this verse today, and it really spoke to me. I cannot tell you how many times someone I know at work or outside of work has said an insult, joking or not, and I have come back at them with an insult, joking or not, of equal or greater value. This can be so damaging, and even worse, it can be so deceiving.

How many times do we crack jokes to each other, when, if we were truly honest with ourselves and each other, part of us really doesn’t mean it as a joke. If we were able to be completely honest with each other with it causing any damage I think we all would say that deep down,

we say what we mean, but we disguise it behind a “joke” so that we can say it and still remain friends.

This is not good. This is deceiving.

This verse really spoke to me, and hit me at my core today. My soul is sick. And God is trying to heal it.

We should be the standard. The example. The encouragement. We have the answer. The fix.

So let us no longer repay insult with insult, joke with joke, but let us shock the world (and ourselves) but repaying everything with love, encouragement and blessing

Your thoughts?

Getting It Right

I have always had this inner, unspoken struggle/urge to “get it right” when it comes to my relationship with God.

It seems like every person who calls themselves a christian (whether they are passionately pursuing Jesus or not) has an opinion as to what it means, or what you have to do to be a christian. I find myself pulled toward two sides. One of them being the seeking of advice from others. You know, “talk to your pastor, or a trusted godly friend”. As far as I can tell, there is nothing wrong with this.

Then there is side two. God. What does God want me to do? “God, people are telling me this, but what do YOU want me to do?”

I find myself wanting to live the christian life the way God wants me to live it, and yet it seems like I cannot go down that path for very long before I have to ask for help – and to be frank – I tend to ask for help from those who can respond instantly and with an audible tone.

There are so many books out there concerning christian living. All seem to evoke that sense of “this will be the last book I will ever have to buy concerning my living for Jesus”. The problem is, I have quite the collection growing of those books. Many of them are very good too!

And thus here I am, and possibly, here you are too. In a world that is growing increasingly evil, how do we distinguish between the junk and the truth? How does God want us to execute our living “Jesus’ way” for God’s glory individually and personally?

More to come soon, in the meantime, what are your thoughts?

Blogging Fear

There has always been a part of me that hates blogging, because I feel that it can be so self centered and can take away time that could be spent doing more important things. More spiritual things.

But, I am a writer. A speaker. A talker. And I embrace that! I have not always done so, but I do now!

I can be a listener. But I am naturally a born talker.

Forgive me, those who can never get a word in. I know it is not always a good thing. I try to listen to people. Its crucial to relationships. But God made me to be a communicator with my voice and with my words.

So, I embrace the blog! I hope you will embrace my talkative blog with me

Grace and Peace!

The Year Of Living Like Jesus

I recently picked up a new book titled “The Year Of Living Like Jesus” by Ed Dobson. I had been avoiding it for weeks now even though it felt like it was calling out to me.

Last night I caved in and I purchased it. And I am so glad I did. The basic foundation of the book is as follows,

An evangelical pastor, Ed Dobson, decided to live one year as Jesus lived. To eat like Jesus ate. Pray as Jesus prayed. Observe the Sabbath and attend Jewish customs as Jesus did, as well as read all four gospels every week.

This is very powerful, funny and moving.

I love how the book is set up too. It is not divided up by ‘traditional’ chapters. Each ‘chapter’ is actually a month. And the writing contained within is definitely much more like a journal entry than him talking to you in the expected “teaching” persona.

I finished the first ‘chapter’ (month of January) last night within an hour. I am  so captivated by not only his writing style and the format, but of course the  content within. The amount of misunderstanding we have due to our lack of

knowledge on the culture, time, and Jewish way of life that Jesus existed in and lived out of . Words cannot express to you how inspired and rejuvenated I am when I am reading this book.

I could go on and give you excerpts from the book and talk more in depth about the content, but that would rob you of the experience and “rawness” of actually reading it.

I strongly urge and encourage you to purchase this book. If you cannot purchase the book then contact your local library and rent a copy. You will not regret it!

Shalom.