Thanks for reading my blog!  I'm trying to get regular about writing again.

The purpose of my writing is not to come across as overly preachy or hyper-spiritual.  It's just to process and walk though this crazy life.  I write about things from music, cigars, sports, and gardening...to spiritual and church issues.  Nothing's really off-limits.  I guess that's because I believe God can work through anything to teach us and help us grow...whether that's a Padron 3000 cigar...or a round of golf...or a story about my kids doing something crazy.  What I hope you see is an authentic life and a faith that is in the process of being developed and discovered.  Sometimes it will be deep and heavy...other times it will be painfully shallow.  But I'm glad you came along to look and listen.  And I invite you to share and comment! 

I hope you have a great day!

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June 19, 2009

So we had some pretty bad storms in Middle Tennessee this week.  My driveway was covered in twigs and branches.  And as much debris as there was lying around - I was thankful that I didn't lose any large limbs or trees.  I believe one of the keys to that was the massive tree-trimming job that I had done in the winter.  The branches that would typically fall in a storm like we had this week were already cut off and chipped into mulch.  What a relief!

So...as common, everyday things usually do...the state of my yard got me thinking about my life and the Kingdom of God.   As I was pondering this morning and thinking over some upcoming decisions, I had a conversation with Laura about someone we know who could only be classified as "unstable."  It's a strange word..."unstable."  And packed full of meaning.

That conversation with Laura raised a great scripture passage in my mind.  It comes from James 1, and gives a clue about "unstable" people.  

⁵But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  ⁶But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  ⁷For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.   - James 1:5-8 (NASB.)


There is so much stuff packed into these 4 verses - but when I think about the person we called "unstable" this morning...that person is indeed a double-minded person.  Always scheming and planning - thinking of themselves while disguising their selfishness in superficial deeds and "positives" for other people.  

Uh-Oh!   Wait just a minute!  Before I go on further about the "speck" in the eye of this unstable person...I probably ought to deal with this huge plank in my own eye (Matthew 7, Luke 6).

Why does God work this way?  Why haven't I learned by now?  Whenever I think I'm seeing something in someone else's life...it's not that the issue doesn't exist...but that same thing is usually an even bigger problem in my own life.  I mean, I struggle with selfishness, and I'm often double-minded.  Maybe that's why I can so clearly see that in another person.  Because I live with it right here in my own life every day!  Ugh!

So, I guess I'm supposed to learn something from all of this.  And I think this is it...

The passage in James 1 above tells me that the root problem is a lack of faith.  And honestly, a lack of faith is so illogical.  It's like saying that I can't trust God to have my best interests at heart.  Hmmm.  If I believe the Bible is true, and God is who He says He is, and that He died to set me free...then why can't I believe and trust Him in the smaller things?  It doesn't even make sense.

Okay...so back to the trees in my yard.  Many places in the Bible use the analogy of a tree to describe people.  Some of my favorites are:

• Psalm 1: 3 - "for he islike a tree, planted by rivers of water...."
• Isaiah 61:3 - "They will be called oaks of righteousness...."
• Matt. 7:19 - "every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down..."

Thinking about how my trees were so stable and withstood the storms with no major damage this week...and in light of the passage in James 1...I think that it's important for me to do a little tree trimming in my own life.  I need to identify those places of unbelief in my life.  Places where I don't trust God completely!  I must admit there are quite a few.  It's going to be a little painful, and I may emerge a bit thinner (oh wouldn't that be nice) and possibly even a little misshapen.  But I am confident that I will emerge stronger, and more firmly planted.  And I will be prepared to weather the storms in my life without snapping in two and crashing to the ground.

I hope everyone has a great day!  Here's to a little tree trimming!