So, I have been thinking a lot about being active in my faith. In fact, I spoke on it this past Sunday in Youth Group. You see, we live in a world and society where everything comes quick. There are fast food restaurants, microwave meals, one cup coffee makers, eggs pre-prepared, and yes even the media with the cell phones with Internet access and all the social networking sights.
We have apps for this and for that on our "nooks" (i do have one of these), "cell phones" (I also have one of these, and then there are the countless messages and "whats on your mind right now" with face book and my space.
Seems like we are actively lazy, allowing all the current inventions to do everything for us. Oh, and when you get these latest and greatest gadgets it isn't a few months before the next level comes out. Think about it. I-phone then the I-phone 2; I-pad and now I-pad 2. Same goes with everything. Computers, cell phones, Internet servers, browsers, e-books, cars, jobs, and the viscous cycle continues on and on and on.
Everything seems to go into these cycles. The media just helps the revolving door to continue on it's endless fast spin. Style matters, not intelligence unless it's intelligence with looks and the latest style. Nerds are in but only in a "Chuck" way and geeks are completely out. There isn't just goth anymore now there is the multi defined "emo." Someone says it's in that has influence and it becomes the all powerful in for the moment until another person decides it's out and something else is now the best, the new rave. Can you hear the revolving door speed up and feel it blow the wind in your face? You should smell the stench of hypocrisy and rotten intentions for the pursuit of money by those who own it all and lay the foundation for the direction our society continues to move in. The fast lane. All leading down the path of destruction and self pleasure with never ending want and desperation to have more!
To be active and aggressive is something that takes more than just determination. It takes an attitude and spirit deep within and a change of self re-defining who we are and crossing the barrier until who we are becomes who we were and to look back and who we were makes us physically ill. Almost like a gut check moment that opens your eyes and removes the veil that has shrouded you in blindness, like someone diseased with anorexia who sees themselves as fat in the mirror when in reality they are skin and bones and clothes hang off their bodies. It's when the veil is lifted that we are disgusted by what we see. Then and only then there is a seed planted. The seed of desperation to change and become something new. A rebirth! But, the rebirth I am talking about is more than temporal sense of newness. It's the kind of birth that brings an excitement and desire to be aggressive about what has changed us.
I have become more aggressive with my faith over the past few years. Not in the sense that I am more overpowering with my opinions and a borderline fanatical Bible thumper. No, something much more. In fact, so different that I have been changed. Don't get me wrong this kind of aggressive mentality of change still is seen as offensive to humanity, even "Christians."
I don't carry around my Bible swinging away hoping that I hit something and someone anyone will listen. I am aggressive in every area. I will admit that like anyone living a life of responsibility I get overwhelmed and temporarily set back. For instance, I have for the most part been more aggressive with my marriage. I show a different kind of love than I was shown. When I fall back I become ashamed and am even more aggressive in fixing it even when it requires me to fall to my knees and ask my beautiful wife and best friend for forgiveness.
The same rings true with my Savior. You see, He's the reason for all this anyway. He willingly gave His life for us. We don't fully comprehend what it meant for Him to do this and what kind of change it brought to humanity because we weren't there before he gave up his last breath. I imagine Christ sitting next to the Father and weeping as He watches His children who He died for act out in such stupid and reckless fashion. I think about when I have told my children "no" to something because I know what's best for them. When they act out it doesn't make me happy, it saddens me and at times breaks my heart, and even more hurtful is when I have to punish them in the form of timeouts and spankings.
I am actively aggressive to continue to the change within me. I am on a continuous pattern and have chosen a new revolving door that has options for me to get off at any point in time. The difference is that I don't want to get off. I know what the other revolving door holds. It's that bitter stench of loveless pursuit of nothing!
How aggressive are you in your Faith? Not faith in general but Faith in Christ Jesus.... All is for nothing if you have not faith. Faith that moves mountains. Faith that says "I can do anything."
Blessings,
Mike III AKA: Big Daddy
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Time Away
I decided to take some time away from the "blog thing" as a way not to have the creative juices flowing but as a way of searching myself out and opeing the door to deep thinking and a time of peace. The thing about writing an e-mail or in a blog that cronicles deep thoughts more than merely just short stories or a "diary" of the days interesting or funny events, is that most times the material is so personal and emotionally taxing that you begin to dry up.
The truth is, some things are meant to keep to yourself. The things we learn through trials and circumstances may be able to help others but the fact is, sometimes they are for us personally and no one else. These are inner lessons that have to be considered for long periods of time. Not unlike evaluating spiritual self, or even evlauating one's motives and heart over life altering choices.
We live in a wold filled where everything is right at the tip of your fingers. You can find anything with a few quick key strokes, from how to bake a perfect Turkey to applying facial cream to clear your complextion and rid yourself of age and the wrinkles that fallow.
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for the information that we have surrounding us and invading every part of our lives. But, consider for a moment the cost of the information highway. Do you think life was happier and easier before there was the surge of information via the internet and cell phones. I mean come on! You can access the internet from your cell phone and even video game units as small as a PSP. I remember in high school not having a cell phone and the internet being dial up. I remember getting hold of friends by the telephone on the wall or driving/walking/biking to their house to find them. I didn't even have an e-mail account until just before I went off to college. Of course this was pre-social networking days. I can onlly immagine the times I wouldn't have been out of the house enjoying the beautiful weather if I'd had facebook or myspace. I was actually out with the friends I would have had on those sites, spending time with them perosonally. At the end of the night we went home and did what we usually did and waited to see or talk to each other the next day at school.
If I wanted to take my girlfriend out on a date I would call her on the phone or ask her in person. If I needed a date to the dance that was coming up I would have to ask in person not by e-mail or facebook. Everything was more personal. I didn't care about a cell phone. I didn't want a cell phone. If anything I wanted my ride to run better or have more time to work out.
I am in no way saying that being connected through the internet is a bad thing. Im not even saying that social networks are all bad. Shoot, I've reconnected with friends I haven't seen or talked to in years because of facebook. What I am saying is that it can be too much. The hole reason I decided to stay away from this blog for so long.
In fact, we took a month away from facebook and all social networking as well as e-mail and basic internet use while we were on Vacation. We decided it would be best to leave it alone and enjoy the time away. Call it a self imposed fast of the media. Well not all media because we did enjoy some movies and did use our cell phones and GPS to get from point A to point B. But for the most part we didn't partake in the media frenzie that occupies so much of our day that it becomes part of what we do. Getting back to life after Vacation it was almost hard to get onto facebook and let people know we made it home safe. If it were not for my students that I serve I would not have gotten back on other than to check on them.
I am sure that while I rant and rave about the need for a quieter more internet and media free life you have checked your facebook account on your cell phone sent a high number of txt messages and even looked at your personal e-mail account. What I wouldn't give to live in the days of the pioneers (with medicine!) and not have to worry about cell phones, phone towers, spending money on fuel, electric bills, and so much more that we work so hard to pay for. While advances are good they are just as costly. The cost? Peace of mind, personal relationships, growing gray hairs, and being there for our children to watch them play and grow.
What about you? Maybe you should take a personal sabatical from the media that floods your life. I plan to do this more and more. Breath the fresh air, leave your cell phone at home when you are out with the family, turn off the lights and light some candles (at least it will smell better), walk to work instead of driving your car, and do it for yourself and your family.
Blessings,
Mike III AKA: Big Daddy
The truth is, some things are meant to keep to yourself. The things we learn through trials and circumstances may be able to help others but the fact is, sometimes they are for us personally and no one else. These are inner lessons that have to be considered for long periods of time. Not unlike evaluating spiritual self, or even evlauating one's motives and heart over life altering choices.
We live in a wold filled where everything is right at the tip of your fingers. You can find anything with a few quick key strokes, from how to bake a perfect Turkey to applying facial cream to clear your complextion and rid yourself of age and the wrinkles that fallow.
Don't get me wrong, there is a place for the information that we have surrounding us and invading every part of our lives. But, consider for a moment the cost of the information highway. Do you think life was happier and easier before there was the surge of information via the internet and cell phones. I mean come on! You can access the internet from your cell phone and even video game units as small as a PSP. I remember in high school not having a cell phone and the internet being dial up. I remember getting hold of friends by the telephone on the wall or driving/walking/biking to their house to find them. I didn't even have an e-mail account until just before I went off to college. Of course this was pre-social networking days. I can onlly immagine the times I wouldn't have been out of the house enjoying the beautiful weather if I'd had facebook or myspace. I was actually out with the friends I would have had on those sites, spending time with them perosonally. At the end of the night we went home and did what we usually did and waited to see or talk to each other the next day at school.
If I wanted to take my girlfriend out on a date I would call her on the phone or ask her in person. If I needed a date to the dance that was coming up I would have to ask in person not by e-mail or facebook. Everything was more personal. I didn't care about a cell phone. I didn't want a cell phone. If anything I wanted my ride to run better or have more time to work out.
I am in no way saying that being connected through the internet is a bad thing. Im not even saying that social networks are all bad. Shoot, I've reconnected with friends I haven't seen or talked to in years because of facebook. What I am saying is that it can be too much. The hole reason I decided to stay away from this blog for so long.
In fact, we took a month away from facebook and all social networking as well as e-mail and basic internet use while we were on Vacation. We decided it would be best to leave it alone and enjoy the time away. Call it a self imposed fast of the media. Well not all media because we did enjoy some movies and did use our cell phones and GPS to get from point A to point B. But for the most part we didn't partake in the media frenzie that occupies so much of our day that it becomes part of what we do. Getting back to life after Vacation it was almost hard to get onto facebook and let people know we made it home safe. If it were not for my students that I serve I would not have gotten back on other than to check on them.
I am sure that while I rant and rave about the need for a quieter more internet and media free life you have checked your facebook account on your cell phone sent a high number of txt messages and even looked at your personal e-mail account. What I wouldn't give to live in the days of the pioneers (with medicine!) and not have to worry about cell phones, phone towers, spending money on fuel, electric bills, and so much more that we work so hard to pay for. While advances are good they are just as costly. The cost? Peace of mind, personal relationships, growing gray hairs, and being there for our children to watch them play and grow.
What about you? Maybe you should take a personal sabatical from the media that floods your life. I plan to do this more and more. Breath the fresh air, leave your cell phone at home when you are out with the family, turn off the lights and light some candles (at least it will smell better), walk to work instead of driving your car, and do it for yourself and your family.
Blessings,
Mike III AKA: Big Daddy
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