A Little Reflection
As I sit here at Panera in Valencia, CA I am feeling a little reflective and writing things down usually helps me process those thoughts. There are a few things that are on my mind right now so here goes nothing.
For those of you that don’t follow me on twitter or facebook it might be news to you that I was in a car accident last week. I am still feeling the effects of that through soreness and tightness in my shoulders/neck. But I am happy to be alive and not seriously injured. Here is my quick recap of that event.
I was driving northbound on HWY 99 near Kingsburg when a big rig cut right in front of me. I slammed my brakes swerved to the left to avoid it where I then lost control of my vehicle. I hit the guard rail in the median and then spun back out into northbound traffic where I did a 180 and then hit the guard rail again and came to a stop.
As I reflect on this event I feel blessed and protected by a good God that spared me from more serious injury. I also have a lot more respect for race car drivers. My accident was at 70 mph and it hurt pretty bad. I am not really looking forward to being on the road as much as I am going to be this next month, but I am asking for God’s peace and safety while traveling.
The second thing on my mind is my wonderful girlfriend Amy. Entering into this travel season for work is bittersweet because I will not get to see her [outside of a webcam] for most of October. All sulking aside, it has been nearly 3 months of us dating and it has truly been a joy. I know that I am still in the honeymoon stage where all things are good and my blinders are still on, but I am excited what the future holds for us. I have really done my best [with a lot of God's help of course] to be the leader of our relationship and keep the lines of communication open. This is something I really have to be intentional about and I am still growing in being a leader. We have had “the talks” about boundaries and what that will look like in our relationship and I love the freedom that God gives when those boundaries are clear and honored.
Oddly enough Amy is not really a sports person; she is athletic and likes the outdoors, but not your traditional sports fan [ie baseball, football, basketball]. For those of you that know me just a little bit know that I am a big sports person. For me, March is the most wonderful time of the year! This has been an interesting learning experience for both of us to understand and work within these differences. I have always thought my girlfriend would NEED to be a sports person, but this has worked pretty well. She keeps me honest so I don’t spend every waking hour involved with watching/reading/thinking sports, but she still allows me to get my fill. We went to a few Grizzlies games with Zach and Jeanette and also went to the FSU/BSU game last week with Luke and Jenn. I contend she goes to the games to talk with the girls, but I enjoy spending the time with her still 
We both share a common interest in hiking/camping so that has been fun to enjoy with her. I also introduced her to disc golf which she seemed to enjoy…or maybe she is just a real good faker.
Another big thing in relationships are families. From hanging out with Amy’s family I can see that she has been raised in a loving and Godly family. I enjoy spending time with them and building those relationships. I also really love the way Amy enjoys spending time with my family. This has always been a high priority item on my list and Amy passes with flying colors!
Well if you have made it to this point I commend you…this started out as a quick reflection that led to a half novel so thanks for reading. Comments are welcomed as well!
Mike
Good Times
Last night I spent some good time in the Word and here are a few thoughts I got from 1 Timothy 4.
v.8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things; holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
v.12 Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
v.15-16 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
I was encouraged that I need to view my life as an example of God’s wonderful creation. When I am not in “need” of God that is when I am to remember His promises and seek after Him even more. Verse 15 really challenged me to live a life that people can see God through me. This is in no way being arrogant, but rather living confident in God’s promises.
Intercessory Prayer
1 Timothy 2: 5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
When I read 1 Tim 2 I just read right over this verse. This morning as I met one of my good friends Jason, and we were walking through this chapter. He has a background in mediation and brought up something really cool about this verse.
Paraphrase: “In a mediation you always want the person that is leading to have equal/greater amounts of power as the highest person involved. This is so that person has the power to call anyone out in the room.”
With this focus in mind he related how Jesus, who is our mediator to God, is in the middle, but is at the same level as God. I just thought that was such a cool imagery of intercessory prayer.
I was encouraged this morning to really take time to intercede for others in prayer. Not just in tough times, but even when times are good to be praying for others.
Pearl Harbor II: Pearlmageddon
This is a parody of the directing styles of Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer. Quite hilarious! Enjoy
Pray For The Rumley’s
Today is the memorial service for Tyler Rumley; Jerrod and Jen Rumley’s 5 month old son. I know the Rumley family would greatly appreciate all your prayers especially today as they say goodbye.
However, in this time of grieving with the Rumley’s I am thankful that we serve a gracious God. I know that the service today will be filled with the love of family and friends and will glorify our God. It is not easy to find joy in these moments, but it is only through Christ Jesus that we can find joy knowing that little Tyler is in heaven for eternity!
I challenge you to visit their website as well, www.therumleys.com
You will read the words of a dad that is deeply saddened, but steadfast in the love of Christ.
With this said I just urge you to pray!
Appearance
I have started in 1 Timothy recently and when I first read chapter 2 I was hit with a curve ball. Paul starts off by writing about worship and how we should intercede in prayer for everyone. He then gives a charge to men:
“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
This charge is simple to understand for the most part, but it is the next verse that made me wonder why it is here the first time I read it.
“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
When I read it again this morning I had a slightly different take. After reading through some commentaries on this chapter it became clear that both of these charges were set to help both men and women worship God wholly. My first reaction when reading the charge to the women was so they would not distract the men by their dress. But a commentary broadened this and said it was more so it would not offend the people that could not afford fancy clothes and jewelry.
Even today we [men and women] must take this to heart and not make worshiping our God a public display of wealth by the clothes/accessories we wear. I will be the first to admit that I enjoy a nicely pressed Express shirt, but what would it look like to take your dress into consideration as part of your proclamation of Jesus Christ?
This passage helped remind me that while I might worship in song on Sundays, my life, each and every day should be a life led of worship. This includes my attitude, words, actions and appearance.
Teddy Ballgame
This is an excerpt from Ted Williams Hall of Fame induction speech. Williams is arguably the greatest hitter to ever play the game of baseball. In his speech he talks about how he approached the game and I really think this shows how sports can mold a person in a good way growing up.
“Ballplayers are not born great. They’re not born great hitters or pitchers or managers, and luck isn’t a big factor. No one has come up with a substitute for hard work. I’ve never met a great player who didn’t have to work harder at learning to play ball than anything else he ever did. To me it was the greatest fun I ever had, which probably explains why today I feel both humility and pride, because God let me play the game and learn to be good at it.”
If you know me at all you know that I love baseball. From my experiences of coaching I have grown to love the game in more ways than just what happens on the field. There is a great opportunity to work with young men at an age where they are finding themselves. It is a great responsibility not only to teach the fundamentals of the game, but [probably] more importantly to teach the game of life.
I truly hope I can get back into coaching sooner than later for that reason alone. I love the game, but I love the people that play the game even more.
Christian Enlightenment
HT: Gene Pensiero
the moment a Christian, or a church, departs from the principle of revelation and goes into high criticism or intellectual understanding of the Bible, all spiritual authority is lost.
this is very relevant to the days in which we live and to the land in which we live. instead of attacking a city in the name of the Lord, the very spirit of the city gets into the life of the church. the local church becomes full of party strife and division, and believers become materialistic. the Bible is approached on the basis of ‘what i cannot understand, i will discard.’
if we submit the Word of God to our own intellect and refuse to believe in the possibility of absolute, authoritative revelation, the church loses its power and authority. and if it loses the ability to say, ‘thus saith the Lord,’ it has no answer to the problems of our times.
during the last century we have talked about the spread of modernism &neo-orthodoxy as if those things were new. but they are as old as the New Testament.
…if you want an enlightened mind on the Word of God, you have to live a crucified life.
that’s the principle.“
{ alan redpath >> the royal route to heaven }
Funny Kid
Watch and enjoy!!
I have to admitt I have my reservations about the validity of this video, but it is brilliant none the less.
