Over a Year, Not much to say

Wow, it's been over a year since I made a post. I figure that doesn't make for regular readers. Rather than update those who stumble upon this about my life, I'll just talk about "Him" right now.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 2:1-4)

Peter writes great stuff. This verse has recently rung very true to me. I hope it does to you.

Isn't it Ironic?

Whilst painting my aunt's home yesterday (to make at least some money) my cell phone rang. It was the company that I had applied for nearly two months ago. Long story short is I'm now employed. Thanks God.

I don't begin until July 11th so I've still got a little time on my hands. When my span of unemployment began I had imagined myself to do some disciplined fasting and praying with an extra sprinkle of Biblical study. Instead what I've found is that I'm lazy dead-beat at heart whether employed or no. My wife asked me as she lay in bed tonight what I had read in the Word. Fumbling through the disorganized files in my cranium I realized that I hadn't been in the Word, but instead read a book about it's importance. Is this ironic? I'm not really sure as I've heard a famous musician sing an entire song called, "Isn't it Ironic?" without many of her scenarios being examples of true irony. Or so my brother said. It's attempted profundity crashing on the shores of ignorance. Perhaps that was the true irony of the song.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about this. One can pretend to have a relationship with another person without really having one. However, if the pretender bumps into someone who really knows that person, the gig is up. Fraudulent claims are revealed. Our relationship with God is just that revealing. When I run into someone who really makes a discipline of cultivating their transendent relationship, I feel like a guy on a commercial saying, "I'm not a Doctor, but I play one on TV." If I'm an actor, when the patient is on the operating table, there is no life at stake. It's all for show. But if I'm the real deal, I've studied the books and put the knife to flesh. I literally use my knowledge and practiced actions to cut away the bad and save the good. Similarly, when it comes time to counsel or to examine even my own self. If I'm not studying and practicing, spiritual well-being is at stake.

So I'm dusting off and organizing the files in my cranium. When It comes time to metaphorically put knife to flesh I don't wish to be unprepared. Sheesh, this wound up more profound than I expected. Is that ironic?

Happiness is unemployment

For the mornings wakies I set two separate alarms. One is just a regular alarm clock alongside the bed. The other is on my cell phone and I place it across the room from me. (You see, I've been unemployed for the entire month of June and need some external motivation to get up.) When the alarm clock by the bed sounds off my wife nudges me (with necessary force) to turn it off. My typical response would be to flail my numb seal arm that I've slept on all night over on the snooze button and be no more roused than before the siren sounded. Ah, but the ace up my sleeve is the simultaneous buzzing of the cell phone across the room. I get up and turn it off only to find myself at 7 AM in the land of the the wakies.

What does one do with such time? I've found enough time to go to http://www.everyvideogame.com. "Mike Tyson's Punch Out" has an insidious draw on me that saps the hours away. Some day I shall indeed defeat Soda Popinski. Countless wasted hours of play would tend to prove otherwise though. Oh, and I've also frequented http://www.desiringgod.org just so you don't think I've viewed only rubbish. On the productivity front, the front porch of my home (or the dreaded cavern of lattice as I liked to call it) no longer has the slightest hint of lattice. I tore it all out. It looks a little bare presently, but I can't put any new woodwork in until I know I am employed. Many other long awaited household tasks have been completed as well. The lovely wife is pleased.

The most interesting turn in my life since I left my job is the upswing in my marriage and spiritual life. It took me about a week, but with all the free time I eventually had to look inward. Not a pretty sight to behold really. I made some sweeping changes to the way I approached the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life. Consistency bore some amazing fruit and here I am now bearing witness of that fruit. Love, peace joy. I love my God, and I love my wife, and I love my church. I just needed the time to remember how much I really did. Thank you God for my span of unemployment.

Told the boss today

My boss came into my office today and asked my why I had not been producing this month. (I'm straight commission) He pressed until I told him I was looking for something different. He then tried to talk me out of it for a bit of time (which made me feel good) and then gave up. He told me I ought to put in my 30 day notice for the job, but I don't have another one lined out yet so I'm really cornered. It's rough, but I'm sure God will provide. I just need to find something that'll pay the bills and give us insurance. Money is not the motivating factor for me, but I gotta find something quick. Matthew 6:33 will help me out.

So a change of life is coming...

Upon arriving in Huntington, it was always clear to my wife and me that we were here for ministry purposes. However, over time I found jobs that took much time and effort and got frustrated with the process of church planting. I found other pastimes and many habits that were not becoming of a friend of God. Last month, after realizing how distant my wife and I really were from each other and God, we began to pray. We have summarily come to several important conclusions.

1. If we are going to stay in Huntington, we are going to focus on the ministry in our church body.
2. My job demands too much of my time and abilities, with too little compensation.
3. We need to change our spiritual direction now.

These conculsions mean that I am going to put out feelers for jobs. I've put in an application with Fed Ex, but they are presently on a hiring freeze. I don't want to stay in sales as it demands more of me than I am willing to give. Other applications have gone in with the Home Depot, but nothing has come of that yet. I need to make at least 25K a year with benefits for the job to be worthwhile and I don't believe the HD would pay that.

Another change will be our spiritual home life. We want to instate devotion time as a family. Also, phone calls with prayer during the course of the day helps. Encouraging letters to each other and encouraging those outside our home will bring us greater communication and I believe greater love.

If you, the reader know Jesus Christ and have a moment to pray, go ahead. 1 Peter 3:12-15

Learning to Post

I am just figuring out this blog thing and it's kinda fun. Who knows what sort of folk will read this. I think I shall first begin my blog with a song I have been writing. It is about the repentant thief who was crucified along with Jesus Christ and another thief. I wondered what it would be like to get inside his head and create a story of how he came to be crucified along with Christ, only to find forgiveness. Comments anyone?

(Verse 1)
Vagabond am I betrayer
of it seems the only one
that I could call my truest friend
and his father's only son.
(Chorus?)
In the field one day on fallow ground a seed was planted
Springing up the tree of which this song is sung
There for what he had my guilty hands were stained with blood and
Judgement fell upon this vagabond
(Verse 2)
Wind whistles a pire, the rabble's
clamoring for justice done
and so it seems I'll meet the Maker
by tomorrow's noonday sun.
(Chorus?)
In the field the tree is felled for it has found new purpose
Hewn into three posts and mounted up by dawn.
Barren rock, and blood, final breaths and vindication
Judgement is upon this vagabond.