Make up your mind!

In today's culture we've been given many choices. We could eat Chinese, Swiss, Italian, Indian, American, or any variety of foods. They all sit at our fingertips. Our career choices are almost limitless. We have many options and choices. And, it's both a blessing and a curse. To a certain extent, I associate both the great amount of choices for a young man as a reason that they aren't growing up and getting to work. So, they go to college change their major six times and end up bumming off their parents till they're 28. It was different 120+ years ago. A son says to his dad, "Dad I don't want to farm." His dad replies, "Do you want to be a blacksmith then?" Son: "Not really." Dad: "Well then stop complaining and start farming." Sons did what their dad did and rarely went down a different career path. Yet, today we have all these choices. I don't necessarily see anything wrong with deciding on different careers and finding out that one career isn't worth it or they don't enjoy it. But, let's not let it be from a spirit of laziness and wanting everything given to us on a gold platter.

The Humble Man

There once was a man who was the most humble of them all. He looked down on others from his lofty perch of ideas. He never sinned, and his life was perfect. That is, all except he was in the middle of a messy divorce and his anger issues were overwhelming him. But, he never sinned. It was always someone else's fault. His views on baptism, heaven, and head coverings were where he specialized. He was an expert. He knew what he was talking about in every area. He was never wrong and his life showed it. His wife was an idiot. His acquaintances were demons in disguise. His elders were fools. He read from the books of smart men. His life fell apart and he died in a ditch with alcohol on his breath. But, he was a humble man. The man who was never wrong or would admit it. At his funeral there were three. The minister, the gravedigger, and the casket maker.

Don't be a fool and follow after the ways of the smart men of today. Study the Word of God, listen to your elders, and read church history.

Addictions

As a human being, or more specifically a male, I find it hard at times to control the want to do stupid things. And, not just stupid things but stupid things a whole bunch of times. Otherwise known as video games. Life is a balance. God's given us many good things. And, in and of themselves most video games are not evil, nor is alcohol, or playing baseball, etc. But, then our minds become focused on these "good" things and become full of them and we become addicted and they become our god. It's like your dad giving you a new car for your birthday. Then, you forget all about your dad and you talk to the car, bow down to the car, and spend all your time with the car. And, you forget all about it being your dad who gave you the car in the first place. (That analogy kind of falls apart, but anyways..) So, worship God and thank God for the good things he's given you.

Tip of the day: Shoot for the moon, but s'riously don't miss because otherwise you're fried... <_<

Balance

Wow, I don't post enough. But, I've been busy all week. :-(

Life is a balance. I.E. Finding time to update your blog instead of other not so useful things.


That's it.

Scary...

10 more minutes of work, then bed... Then I have to get up at 6, yuck...


I mean fun. ^.^

We Are in the World

but not of it. It's a hard balance. Life is a balancing act. Being part of a world that is full of lying, sex outside of marriage, pride, and many other sins our flesh tends to crave can be very tempting to a young man or woman in any Christian home. They've been raised in a culture that is set outside of the world. Especially in the circles that I've been brought up in there was a clear distinction between our raising and the world.

And, then you see the world for who they really are. Satiating their flesh and not caring about anyone but themselves. And, to a certain extent it looks good to you. They aren't restrained by God's law. They appear happy.

And, then fast forward and look at the older men and women who are now sitting in rest homes who were the ones who satisfied their lustful desires. They're life has become nothing. They satisfied their wants and desires even though they were contrary to the law of God when they were young. But, now they sit tired and weary from a life filled with unrepentant sin and the hope of life is gone. There is nothing to look forward to. Their bodies have broken down and are no longer the things they once were. They're body is again turning into dust. And, what do they have to look forward to? An afterlife of eternal pain and torture.

Then, on the other side of the spectrum is those who lived a life filled with living for Christ. They're lives were always joy filled. They restrained their flesh and fought with the devil and now here they sit before crossing the river to see the glories that await them in heaven.

It's all about perspective. Can you see farther then the end of your own nose? Can you see the glory that awaits the saint who has fought the good fight and finished the race?

Tip of the day: When you focus on yourself all the little problems in life begin to feel like mountains. But, if you care about others, your problems will become much smaller and less significant. o.0

Love

Today, love is fairly lost. What most people mean when they talk about love is some sort of eros love. It's generally all about what you can get from the other person. Is that love?

Jesus said in John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." True love is one in which you are willing to lay down your life for others. Sometimes I wonder if I could lay down my life for my family and friends. Or, is my heart too selfish and fixed on myself? Christ laid down his life for us, and if we truly love someone we'll be willing to lay down our lives for them. And, the one we should be most willing to lay our lives down for is Christ.

But Daniel I'm not faced with the decision to lay down my life for others every day. Wrong, to some extent every time we serve someone and don't follow the fleshly desires we are laying our lives down for them. Maybe we're not losing our lives as Christ did for us, but we are killing our flesh to put others before us. People used to call things like this chivalry (for guys) but it shouldn't be something forced. If your heart's not in something people will see through your facade.

Tip of the day: Life is full of choices. Make the right ones and live, make the wrong ones and die. Fairly simple. ;-)

Time is Precious

Each second is precious. Do you treasure the things you have alot of? Do you treasure the relationships in your life? Do you treasure the insulation inside the walls? Do you appreciate the soap next to the sink? I recently observed a movie where everyday items such as wipes or water were things many people died for. Yet, today we throw many of those things away without a second thought. But, as we get low on things such as water we are careful with every drop and try to preserve it till we need it. But, you can always get more water.

How about time? God has only given you so many years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Do you know how much time you have left? As a young person you feel you have your whole life ahead of you, but that reality can be shattered at any moment by any number of things. What do you do with those precious seconds God has given you?


Tip of the day: A to-do list with prioritization can do wonders. ^.^