It's All About Relationship #8

Well it's amazing just how fast you can get uneasy, anxious and more than worried! For many years I have worked very hard on obeying the speed limit. It was a God thing and a possible story for another time.

Last night as we were driving into our little community I was put to the test. As I past through the gate I, as usual was being very cautious of my speed. Two reasons. One is the previous conviction I mentioned above and the second being that I am very much aware of the new patrol cars that have invaded our community. So......... I look at my speedometer to verify my 25 mile per hour speed and as I look up I see the police car coming from the opposite direction. He stops where I am going to turn. I at this time have no uneasy, anxious, worried or angry emotions in my body. Why? Because I have just checked my speed and I have done nothing else to be uneasy about. As I turn the corner along side Mr. Officer he follows me with his lights a blazing. What's up with this I ask myself and then outloud to Ann Marie and Tinkerbell? I pull over and wait his arrival all the while going from uneasy to anxious. Every time I repeated how I was innocent of any wrong doing I could feel the emotions growing to the next level. You might say I have some pride in being able to maintain my no ticket status because of being obedient to the law. As Mr. Officer arrives at the window he states that I was doing 30 in a 20 and further the tags on my car are expired. NOT GUILTY races through my mind. I in fact know that I was only doing 25 in a 25 zone. And I know as fact that I had put my new tab on just a short time ago. Again, I'm saying this to myself and then to Ann Marie and tinkerbell. By the way Tinkerbell is our dog. He does his thing and asks for my license, registration and insurance. I am doing my very best to not let a single one of these very strong emotions escape from my lips. I said as politely as I could, "30?" He said "yes 30." WRONG!!! That's not possible, he is exaggerating? As a secondary backup to being able to place blame I wondered if my speedometer could be off? After all I did just put on new tires and maybe something is off? The only control that I could muster up was over my lips. My mind was raging! I then say, "I am positive that I just put a new tag on recently." He says, "well it's not there." He then walks back to his car and I am left with waiting. Waiting......! Uneasy is an understatement! Anxious is a baby word at this point. Worried has turned into anger. But I am holding it all together. Only Ann Marie could probably tell through the tension that I was ready to go off on this guy. And this is so absolutely out of my character and nature. But it was real then and still stirs me up as I tell this. Anyway I have decided that I am going to ask to see the radar because.... well...... because basically I think Mr. Officer is a liar. A man who is on some kid of power trip. He's probably being punished for some kind of wrong doing on the job or he'd be out rounding up real criminals or even real speeders. He returns to the window and hands me back all my stuff and says, "I checked the registration and it is there for 2010 but the sticker is not on your vehicle." He then pours out instruction as to what I must do to fix the problem. Then he says, " I need you to slow down." I can not tell you how condescending those words sounded at that moment. These are fighting words. I was not speeding! I then pull myself together and said to Mr. Office, "I am positive I was only doing 25 in a 25." He says, "NO you were doing 30 in a 20!" NOT!!! Wait a minute. 30 in a 20? "Mr. Officer the speed limit here is 25." And I'm now thinking, have they changed the speed limit? He states that there is a LARGE sign ( I'm not kidding he said LARGE sign) stating the speed limit as 20 and that it is radar enforced. I paused long enough to realize that there was no ticket coming only the warnings of a power hungry officer. Okay I'll grant you that these are only my opinions of him based on the current circumstance. I decided that I would hold my tongue, swallow my pride and let him have his moment. It's obvious he needed it more than I did. Also I will be the bigger person and give him what he needs the most when he deserves it the least at great cost to me.

So there you have it. The whole truth and nothing but the truth according to my recollection. I spent the rest of the evening trying to take back my mind and emotions. As I was driving out this morning it all came rushing back and I did check for the LARGE sign. They did reduce the speed limit from 25 to 20 and sure enough there is a SMALL sign. I'm guessing that putting this into print will bring it to a close or so I hope.

Well you'll have to find your own application for this. My purpose is only to confess and try to get it behind me today!

It's All About Relationship #7

LIFE..... Jesus says, Therefore I'm telling you Ed, stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious or worried about your life. What you shall eat. What you shall drink. Your body and what you shall put on. He's much braver than I am as I would never tell Ann Marie that she should stop being perpetually anything when it comes to her body and what she should wear. Just trying to lighten things up a bit.

Now it's my opinion that either this is a trick question or Jesus is being sarcastic. He asks, "Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" My immediate answer is "OF COURSE!" Life is... a job, transportation, circumstances, situations, decisions, a honey due list, meetings, and the list goes on. I absolutely agree that life is much more than just eating , drinking, and clothing. But I don't agree that I am worried about any one of those three things He has specifically mentioned. Now having studied this before I am very much aware that Jesus is talking about more than just those three things. So I'm trying not to jump the gun.

Following my pattern of study I must personalize these last words. Last time I did this exercise I was working on a specific area of my life. See if you can guess what it was. So this was then. "Is not Ed's life greater in quantity than position and Ed's body far above and more excellent than recognition? I am happy to say that I have achieved some success in overcoming those things. This time I will have to see what God is pointing out for me to focus on which just happens to make a great application.

Application - I know that I said this whole week was the same so this will have to be for a bonus reward. Each of you personalize Jesus words.

Just fill in the blanks by making comment on this blog. Is not ______'s life greater in quality than _________________ and ________'s body far above and more excellent than __________________? Here's another example. Is not life greater in quality than a promotion and the body far above and more excellent than a new car?

It's All About Relationship #6

I have been giving these words careful consideration and I believe I have greatly improved in this area compared to when I did this 5 years ago. I don't think I am worried or have worried about anything for a long time. I'd like to say I have been uneasy but that might be underestimating it just a bit.

Here at the Onething Prayer Center we seem to have been in perpetual change for several months. For a long time I just wanted to know where it would all end. I spent many hours trying to figure out every possible configuration of the campus. Where people could meet, who would be here, how long they would stay and how much they would be able to pay.

What's the difference between being worried, anxious or uneasy?

Worry - to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

Anxious - full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Ed was anxious about the Onething Prayer Center.

Uneasy - uncomfortable; restless

Sounds like a progression. Uneasy, anxious, worry.

I wouldn't say that I was tormented yet I can't say I was just restless, so I guess anxious, full of mental distress seems to be the correct answer.

If it is progressive then I just lost the comfort I was feeling because I didn't fall into the worry category. Because if it's progressive I just hadn't reached that level yet.

Ed you seem a little uneasy... I can live with that. Ed you seem worried. NOT! I don't like that. It doesn't sound very spiritual to be a worrier. Uneasy sounds like a concerned, wise, mature adult. So I'm a little delusional... give me a break!

Okay what's next? Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you Ed, stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious, and worried about your life. Life......

Application - We're on the same application as Monday for the entire week. Several have figured out what the next level of the application is and have been rewarded accordingly. How many of you have worried about doing this application?

Please be aware that some people are journaling through this blog and others have created their own blog to journal in.

It's All About Relationship #5

Stop, halt the progress of being, living in, existing, perpetually, for an indefinitely long time.

Let me make this perfectly clear. You can not stop "things" from coming to mind. What I love about breaking verses down word by word is the clear picture you can get of what is really being said. With the definitions of just three words I came to the realization that Jesus was not saying that we can eliminate the opportunity of being uneasy, anxious or worried. For an indefinitely long time was what caught my attention. To me that says, I will have these thoughts or even desires to be uneasy, anxious or worried but what Jesus was introducing to me was that how long I let them stick with me is up to me. I hope someone else sees this so that I'm not just grasping at straws.

STOP, halt the progress means that I can put an end to the progress of going from a thought to being uneasy and then becoming anxious and finally being a full fledged worrier. Before the progress of being begins I can predetermine what I believe. I set my mind on what I know to be the truth before it is challenged. John Maxwell says, "Make your decisions early and then just manage them." I think that's what Jesus is saying as well. Ed, make your decision to trust in my word. Ed... make the decision to believe that "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 Then all I have to do is manage that decision. When uneasy begins I know that GOD has MY plan and there is nothing to be uneasy about. I mean how can I be uneasy, anxious or worried know that God's plan is for me to prosper and that I would not be harmed. How is it that am so often questioning my future because everything seems hopeless when God says that He gives me hope and a future. The repeating answer keeps telling me that I don't believe because I don't really know and I don't really know because there is a hole in my revelation of the relationship with my Father so I am unable to respond with the correct response. My response is based on something else that has taken precedence over what I thought I knew about my Father.

So here's what that looks like to me. My REVELATION of my RELATIONSHIP of my Father's love for me must become so established that my RESPONSE will be to trust Him. Then there will be no good days, no bad days, no good results, no bad results only GOD!

In closing Ecclesiastes 6:12 says, For who [ limited to human wisdom] knows what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow [going through the motions but accomplishing nothing]? For who can tell a man what will happen [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun after he is gone?

Yesterday God sent one of His own to visit me. He simply walked in off the street and asked for me by name. I later asked him how he had found the center and how he had gotten my name... he had no clue. My day was well planned and I had not left any room for an unexpoected visit especially from a stranger. Non the less when he asked for me by name they sent him right to my office. He proceeded to tell me that he had moved back here from Colorado to restore his relationship with his kids and wife. But most of his conversation was on how hard it has been and that he was depressed and frustrated and uneasy and anxious and worried. Imagine! I being the people person that I am gave him a couple quick words and got to the point by asking, what I could do for him. He simply asked for $2.50 for a bus pass. I toke care of that need and more and was ready to say goodby. He then shared about his experience at church this past Sunday and I gave him a God's Promise book. Okay, nice meeting you..... He then asked me to pray for him................................................................................... Now why didn't I think of that? The rest is history and in hind sight I probably should have driven him to where he needed to go verses throwing a few dollars toward it.

Application - Let's spend this entire week with yesterdays application. I need it! There were other moments yesterday where I intentionally worked my "Who I Am" words into conversations and it felt wonderful and encouraging to get back to basics. I am so glad that His mercies are renewed each and every morning.

It's All About Relationship #4

So this weekend we visited one of the 12 churches on the Onething Campus and it is amazing how God brings words of confirmation and direction through every part of our lives. The word was right on in regards to what I have been thinking and sharing.

The point was made that Jesus experienced everything that I as a man could ever possibly experience. I have believed that for many years. It is insignificant that He was the Son of God while He was man. Also my belief. So Jesus was speaking from experience (again my belief)when He said "stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious, and worried." This point is proved by the end of chapter 6 in the book of Matthew so I will not jump ahead to make the point now.

When I said on Friday that perhaps our focus is to much on us and our circumstances I didn't really know how true that was. Today on Monday I can say that with absolute confidence. There are places in my relationship with the Father that have holes. When I become anxious or worried or just uneasy the reality is that I have doubts about myself, and God. I..., for a moment have no clue as to who I am in Him. So instead of being a righteous man of God I become a worrier. For many years I used to carry around a Who I Am list. I would read it daily and sometimes hourly. It reminded me of who I am according to the Word of God. I am not a worrier. I am Gods' child. I was a worrier at one time in my life but not any more. I say often that out of a revelation of relationship with the Father there will be a correct response. Worry is not the response that comes from that revelation of relationship with the Father. It is from the revelation of relationship with a circumstance that has captured our attention. Two truths present themselves for our consideration, worry, verses Joint Heir with Christ.

Stop - to close by filling, shutting off, block up, cause to cease, prevent, halt the progress.

HALT THE PROGRESS!

Being - existence, living or existing or assumed to do so.

HALT THE PROGRESS OF EXISTING!!

Perpetual - lasting forever, for an indefinately long time, without interruption.

HALT THE PROGRESS OF EXISTING FOR AN INDEFINATELY LONG TIME!!!

Application - For the next 24 hours I would like you to say out loud as many times as possible "I am God's child born again of the incorruptable seed of God, His righteousness and the Apple of His eye. You don't have to scream it but don't mumble it under your breath either. I believe that by the end of the 24 hours you'll have a great God story. There is a misting available for anyone who can say that they did the above at least 24 times in the 24 hour period. For those who go one step further there is an additional gift awaiting you. You'll have to see if you can imagine what one step further would be. Hint - Redeem the time. One another. Giving thanks.

It's All About Relationship #3

I admit that yesterday could have been considered a little depressing but it was necessary to go to the farthest end in one direction, so as to compare the farthest end in another direction. AND... to see where we would place ourselves on that scale if we're honest with ourselves.

We started Matthew 6:25 yesterday and heard Jesus saying to us "Therefore I tell you!" or Hey guys it's Me, Jesus, and I want you and you and you and you, I think you get the idea, to pay attention here because I have something very important to tell you. "Do I have your attention? Are you ready? Here it comes!" .................... "STOP!" .............Stop? .............Stop what? ........"Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life." My response is that's easy for Him to say. Then that still small voice says, "really?" The question then comes, "Do you really want to go there ED?"

I began to reconsider my thoughts and thought about all those statistics from yesterday. Statistics? Their not statistics to God, they're people. My mother attempted suicide and she was not a statistic she was my mom. A very dear friend of ours attempted suicide and she to was not a statistic she was a friend. A young man whom we had known for his entire life, someone who called us aunt and uncle attempted suicide and succeeded but he was not a statistic he was a nephew. Then there was another young man whom we also had know since birth and he to called us aunt and uncle and he to attempted suicide but did not succeed and he is not a statistic, he is a nephew. There are others and none of them are statistics. In every case these people could not deal with or adjust to or accept life here in this world. Circumstances had become overwhelming and somehow they all felt like death at their choosing was the only option.

"STOP!" "being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life.... ED." For some strange reason Jesus must think that I, ED and each of you are able to do this. That somehow, someway I don't have to be uneasy. That I don't have to feel anxious. That there is nothing in this life that I have to take on worry about. Asking if that is really possible is to question God's integrity. He wouldn't lie to me, would He? Of course not! He wouldn't speak words that are unattainable, would He? Of course not! From my personal experiences when Jesus/God gives me a word it is not to torment me or to tease me. But I must admit that it feels that way or I perceive it that way sometimes. BUT... I full well know that it's a word to bring our relationship more in line with how He sees it or desires it to be rather than where it is at this moment.

This is one of those lessons I need refresher courses on constantly. There is the story of a man walking down the street, not really paying attention to where he's going and he falls into a huge hole in the street. It takes him some time to get out of the whole. The next day he's walking down the same street and he is now aware of the hole but for some reason misjudges where it's at and he again falls into the hole. Again it takes him some time to get out of the hole. The next week he is walking down that same street and very much aware of the hole he walks up to it's edge to get a closer look at it. You guessed it his curiosity brought him to close and he again found himself in the hole. Again it took him some time to get out of the hole. The following week the man was walking toward the same street and remembering his experiences he passed up that street and walked down another one. The moral of the story is that some of us take longer to learn things than others.

These words led me to carry around a Lilly plant 5 years ago. Yes, a Lilly plant. I carried it everywhere! It became a friend. I even named it, Cal. That was his first name. His full name was Cal i lily. For the next few days, weeks or months I will share my journey regarding Matthew 6:25. Your invited to join me along with others for a fun but revolutionary look into what appear to be simple words. Oh, there will be assignments in order for you to get the full value. And, if your not willing to experience the fullness of this by doing the assignments then I would say, don't waste your time.

"Stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life."

Application - This weekend let's take the focus off ourselves and our circumstances. Let's find someone else to share a little of our focus with. I want you to get out of your comfort zone. Maybe we are uneasy, anxious, worried because there is to much of us? Find some one that you normally don't hang around with. Someone that.... well let's just say they wouldn't be your first choice to hang with. Oh and let's not just throw some money at this. Make this a personal investment or for some a true sacrifice. This could be a daughter, or a parent that don't enjoy each other at this time of life. It could be a stranger. Maybe take a homeless person to lunch? Let this be your only guide. Love is giving some else, what they need the most, when they deserve it the least, at great cost to you.

It's all About Relationship #2

Did you know that 730,000 people attempt suicide every year? And those 730,000 attempted suicides affect a minimum of 6 people surrounding them. That's 4,380,000 people who are affected by this one act each and every year. Now the reality is that only 30,000 of those 730,000 attempts are successful. Only 1 out of 50 attempts actually accomplish ending their lives. As of today there are 4.4 million people who are survivors of attempted suicides. In adults suicide is the 11th leading cause of death. In youth it is the 3rd leading cause of death. For every 2 people from the ages of 1 to 19 who are murdered, 1 commits suicide. Lastly someone attempts suicide every 18 minutes.

By now you're probably wondering what has all that got to do with me? I would never attempt suicide and if fact I would never think about it as an option. You're probably right. But....

Would you take on stress or even depression. Would you consider frustration, anger, abuse? How about alcohol, drugs or pornography? None of these seems to be as serious as attempting suicide but your wrong. Any one or all of these can lead to attempted suicide. Then there's another angle. Is suicide just about death or can we attempt suicide while living our lives. Have you ever heard anyone say that so and so committed career suicide? Isn't a drug or alcohol abuser committing suicide?

We'll enough of that. I'll leave it with this. According to a recent study less than 2.5% of all Americans say they are happy. What's up with that?

Jesus addressed this issue long ago. Jesus gave us the answer for all that seems to keep us from finding happiness. I must tell you that I am conceding for the moment to the idea of being able to find happiness. Happiness is not scriptural as far as I can tell. There is something far greater than happiness. The fullness of God is far more than just being happy. A good Chicago hot dog can make me happy. A Fuddruckers burger can make me happy. One of those special looks from Ann Marie can make me happy. Many things can make me happy... but... they only last for a moment. SO.... I am not searching for happiness. I want and need something more. Let's see if Jesus really spoke about what I and millions of others think I'm looking for.

Matthew 6:25 AMP.

Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you,"

Therefore is saying, for a reason. I is Jesus. tell is to impart information. you... is no doubt me.

So let's put it all together. For a reason I, Jesus, am imparting the following information to YOU ED!!!!

Time is up for today but our application is to call someone whom you have not spoken to in some time and say hello. Then give them a scripture verse that will encourage them. You may not know what verse until you make the call.

THEREFORE I TELL YOU!

It's All About Relationship #1

It's been almost a year since I stopped blogging. I'm not really sure why other than it just wasn't important enough for me to make the time to do it. Everything you will read in any blog that I write will be about relationship in some way. Why... because I believe that's all that matters to God. Out of a revelation of relationship with Him will come a correct response with others and for all we do in our lives. So to that end I will share the following story for our first of what may become many personal intimate times with God. If your expecting the same old same old or some great teaching you may be disappointed. I am not a scholar nor a great teacher. I am just one person searching after God and I'm willing to share the journey with anyone who is interested. It is not always pretty but it will be honest.

One day, when a young man was a freshman in high school, he saw a kid from his class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "why would anyone bring all his books home on a Friday? He must be a real nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw a terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books and asked where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I ask him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. asked him if he wanted to play football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy you are really gonna build some serious muscles with this stack of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Bot, sometimes I was Jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began.

"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

"Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

What a great illustration. I have lived both sides of that story at various times in my life. I think at that age of my life I would have helped Kyle. As for thinking what Kyle was... it would never have crossed my mind... then. Sadly enough I can recall other times when the reverse would have been my actions.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Well... you have information and meditation. All that's missing is application. Today I would ask you to purchase or make a card and give it to someome. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you as to what kind of a card it should be and who it should go to. Then if you will come back and share the experience with others thru this blog.