Life without a plan?

Luke 14:25-35 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Nothing in this life or the eternal life works itself out. Each needs approaching with a steadfast determination to accomplish something. I am amazed at how many people live all or a portion of their lives without a plan. God has shown me recently that in order to succeed here I must have a plan that leads me to that success. I cannot sit on a pew and say in ten years I want to be where God wants me and expect that to occur. The verses above are clear that God does not want us to start a journey, be on a journey, or finish a journey without having a plan. Jesus was clear in this passage to those who were physically following Him about how determined that must be to be a true follower. He was saying, "You want to follow me as Savior, then you need to think about how hard it will be, what it is going to cost you, and be prepared to complete the journey, or else stay on the porch." Your life needs thought out so that you do not lose. How will you be a success for God? What is your plan for success in…

Money? The Bible says owe no man.

Memorization? Thy Word have I hid in my heart.

Marriage? They two shall be one

Parenting? Train your child

Work? Do all things as unto the Lord

Daniel purposed in his heart not defile himself. He planned and decided on a course of action. What is your plan?

The View From Behind Home Plate

I have become the half-time enemy and half-time friend of all baseball coaches and players, a villain in blue, an umpire. I am in my second season as an official for the recreation league in my county. I do this for a few reasons: to pay for my mission trip to the Dominican Republic, I love baseball, and because I learn so much about baseball, life, and God.

Over the last few days I have become aware of a trend. I normally can tell who will strikeout, provided the pitcher throws enough strikes, and who will hit the ball into play. I can tell by the look in the kids eyes. Every kid has a mixture of fear and excitement coming to the plate. The step from the on deck circle and begin that walk to the box. As the approach something happens. The hitters loose their excitement and become very somber and determined in the eye. You can tell they are talking to themselves and preparing for the at bat. The others have a look of dread, fearful hope, or apathy. 90% if the time the outcome is determined before the guy steps in. Even if a hitter should strikeout they leave with a certain look that says you got me this time but now I know how to get you. It is something inside that makes the difference. Having been a former player and current coach I know that the something is confidence and experience. There is no shame in striking out and there is no way that if you stay in there and keep swinging at strikes that you are going to strikeout every time. Any pitch that enters the zone can be hit. You get three chances and it only takes one. Confidence.

Now, what does this teach me about God? Well I am according to the Bible indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. I have an internal resource that created the universe and controls the outcome. I will step up to the plate of life and trials will be hurled straight at me. I will turn towards them and try to send them back but sometimes I will miss. Strike one. Here it comes again. Strike two. Here it comes again. Strike three. Man, I failed, that curve took me by surprise. Ok, here we go again, Lord, I know the curve is coming because that is what took me out last time. Here it comes. Foul ball, strike one. Ok, Lord, I got a piece of it. Please, help me get it next time. Ok whatever come this time I am going to hit this one. Perhaps, I did.

You see, I can turn inside my head and talk with God. He can help me be a person of courage and strength. I need not fear men or what they can deliver my way. Yeah, they may get me this time, but life recycles. God stays with me. So like Daniel, as I step into the box, I determine I will not strikeout, and with God's divine guidance, I will put the situations I face into play. Confidence in God.

Well, Are You?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:13-14 (KJV)

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Gen 29:1-10 (KJV)

Ok, we have two stories that occur by a well. In the first, listed second we find that a stone is over the well. This was done so that the sun did not dry up the well, or so that pollutants did not get in the well and poison the water, or that the well did not fill with dust and become shallow or nasty. All of these reasons were a good one to wait until evening when all the flocks were gathered. In the second story, listed first, Jesus is speaking to a woman at a well. He compares the physical well to His followers, a.k.a., Christians.

So, why write about these two facts? I want to ask you a question and myself a question. Are we spoiled, shallow, or just dried up by the world? Before I can answer this question I need to determine how effectively I have been at guarding my life against the influences of the world (Satan's philosophical playground). If I have not thought it necessary to guard against this influence then chances are my flowing water is cloudy in the ethics bucket, or speech bucket, or internet bucket, or movie bucket, or TV show bucket. It could be worse it could be a mud pie of these things. Now I do not want to drink these last two analogies and chances are you do not want to drink them either. Therefore, why did I allow this to happen? Because I like to push the envelope of acceptability and walk up against sin with the narrowest of margins that still says to the outside observer, "See I am separated from the world." However, what is the cost for this way of thinking? I could be clearer, deeper, and not so thirsty.

Ok, one example from my struggles. CSI, I really like this show, is not a good show to watch for me and likely not for others. It is entertaining and I know it is about the scientist who catch the bad guys, and that is great. However, with each piece of evidence I get to visualize a murder, rape, beating, shooting, stabbing, poisoning, or freak accident, over and over again. I am placing violence in my well. How can my water supply not be affected? Just a thought from me, what do you think?