SPOILER ALERT and CONFESSION, I am about to do the very thing I am going to complain about.
You know what really bugs me…. Oh, sorry Andy Rooney, I stole your line.
I read a number of blogs and I have found one thing that many (not all) have in common. Blogs tend to be negative. They/I can have a habit of using the blog as a place to vent about pet peeves. On one hand, it is in the examination of these areas that we often find dysfunction in ourselves as well and find a growth edge to become more of who God has called us to be. On the other, we do use this platform to just plain complain about the things that bug us. And I have to admit, many of the things that bug other bloggers (I use the term lightly for myself since I don’t post enough to be a real blogger), many of the things that bug other bloggers bug me too. But I wonder how much we gain by griping about every little thing in life, and where does it take us in life. In other words, do we gain by giving voice to these things, or does breathing these words and thoughts take us into a negative spiral of a personal nature where we stop creating.
In the Movie “High Fidelity” with John Cusak, his character is a constant critic, making various lists with his employees about the best music in eclectic categories that are designed to show how much smarter they are than the average music lover. One day he hears a tape of a local group of teenagers and offers to produce their demo. When he gets scared of being the DJ at the groups debut party, his girlfriend reminds him that he has always been a critic; now he is a creator and its time to step up.
It’s easy to be a critic because a critic never has to create. But we always have to remember, without the creators, there is nothing to critique. I think I want to be a creator more than I want to be a critic. My greatest desire is to know God, the first and best creator, and to always be open to what He is doing so I can cooperate with the Holy Spirit in being part of bringing forth the Kingdom of God. I know that I will still get bugged by stuff, but maybe I can remember Viktor Frankl who in the midst of suffering in a Nazi concentration camp, discovered that he couldn’t control how he was treated, but was able to chose how he responded to that treatment. We always have the choice of how we respond. Do we respond in ways that are destructive or constructive?
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Yah, I know this is the question that everyobody is pondering today. In the context of the current climate in the world, these are important issues. Well, actually it is. When did it ever become a rule that just because times are tough, that no one is allowed to have fun? And where did we get this idea that just because the mission of Jesus is deadly serious, that He never had fun. After all He went to wedding parties, and children flocked to Him. Jesus always went to the folks, rather than making them come to Him, literaly and figuratively. Jesus meets us where we are, and I believe that would mean playing Kick-Ball.
Last night was a blast at First Church of the Brethren of Peoria. A bunch of kids of all ages had some pizza and played some Kick-Ball. It was good to laugh and play together. I can’t wait till next month. BTW – if you have ideas for the family fun night once a month, let me know.
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I should have started with this post yesterday, but I got thinking during the Rose Bowl and jumped the gun without giving a welcome at the front door. Well, better late than never.
Welcome to my blog. Nothing formal or fancy, just a bunch of random thoughts as they come to me about living this Christian life. Feel free to comment on any of the posts. Anyone (and I mean anyone) is open to join the discussion. I just ask a couple of favors from anyone that wishes to comment. Please keep it civil so we can have a fruitful discussion. Also if you have any problem with anything on the site, let me know. I’m new to much of this and probably don’t have everything adjusted correctly yet. My info is available on peoriabrethren.org
Thanks for stopping in. Hope to hear from you soon.
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I’m sitting here watching the Big 10 lose another Rose Bowl. Oh well. Pac Ten folks are celebrating right?
I wonder why we get so wrapped up in finding our happiness in the success of OUR team. Frankly it’s a bit unfair to force that burden on a group of young athletes, asking them to succeed so we can feel good about ourselves. It’s a burden we should ask of no one. No other person on the planet should ever be expected to provide for our happiness. After all there is ONE who has already taken on the burden for our life, and He is the only one who is capable of providing the joy we seek. Jesus has already provided all that we need to live life to the full, even in the midst of our burdens.
Those who know me know that I’m not big on New Years resolutions. Anything worth doing is doing now! And now is always the time for each of us to count only on Jesus for our Joy. He is the only one who can carry that burden and the only one who should ever be asked.
Oh ya, Congratulations USC.
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