Day 211 of 365: Perfect people

i am more convince that God uses the church to comfort anyone in their lowest. If there's a reason why bad things happen, it has to be the reason of the church answering the call to provide the love and support that people need. Some times, i feel like we, as the church, are too comfort with the good that church meetings are like social meets at the country club. i think it should be more like social meets at the homeless shelter or the Superdome when Katrina happened. The church is not meant for perfect people. It's meant for the broken. God didn't come to comfort the rich and wealth, strong and able. He chose the weak and poorly, according to the world, to comfort those who are much the same (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). We are not called to be superior, though we have faith that conquers death.

Day 210 of 365: Crunchable delights

Food can be such a sin...which is an interesting parallel to the path of righteousness and the path of destruction. Healthy food and junk food. It's so hard to give up junk food and replace it with healthy food, yet you are convince that healthy food is good for your body, much like how meditating on God's word is good for your spirit. And yet there are distractions out there that pleases the sinful nature, also known as junk food, or anything that is against the will of God. In this case, moderation is out of the question. Our God cannot tolerate moderation of sin. In fact, there should be no sin since we live apart from sin, essentially, in the context of food, we have gone from the modern age of cooking to the simple days of unprocessed food. There is a clear division between the two and both lead to their individual paths. Food for the body or for the spirit, God has made it clear for everyone! i can understand this well since i'm trying to eat healthy... That means no more Cheetos, Kettle chips and all those crunchable delights...

Day 209 of 365: Be thankful

Really weird weather system that we have here in SF. Starts the day with light showers, then some good old fashion sunshine, then some showers again, then the sun followed by a sudden downpour! Guess what came after? SUN! After that? Yeah! It's rain again!! At least this is a tad predictable...

Managed to do some things that i had to finish off. i'm really full throttle on my job search even though work is trying to keep me on for another month or so. Either way, perhaps it's a good time to start the path to my Physical Therapy career? It's also a good time to test my faith and watch God provide immensely. i know He will provide what i need. He always does. It's just not always at my timing. It's still encouraging to know that it's a given either way. i just need to do what i can and love Him for giving what i have. Be thankful always.

Day 208 of 365: Never change

Can't really say that you are a veteran in ministry when you judge it by how many years you have under your belt. There are circumstances that change the nature of ministry that should ask the question of whether we are veterans of adapting to changes. Changes that most ministers aren't really used to since it's not their style. i like to say that my years of service has been fruitful, but i'm not a veteran of change. There are preferences that kids have that i don't share, even though i try to. It's just not comfortable. Then again, the real comfort is that we can be novice to worldly influences, but a veteran in knowing the character of God and how He will always see us through the shift of trends. God's word will never change, because He never change. And when God stays the same, we can be confident that we will know His love more than the worldly trends.

Day 207 of 365: Wrong direction

Had a good drive up to Berkeley for an interesting meeting of youth workers. i guess Golden Gate is not the only church that has issues, but it's encouraging to know that we're not alone. If there's a perfect church out there, you have to ask questions. Is there something that that church is doing right, or, in worst case scenario, wrong? Not sure where this thought is going, but could a church flourish because it might be head down the wrong direction that the devil won't interfere, but continue to build it up? It's a scary thought and the idea of how Satan works to take as down when we are on the right path makes you wonder what happens to an organization that is opposite of that. How far will it go before God steps in and draws the clear cut line? i pray that no church will experience too much comfort or else we'll never see what is really needed.

Day 206 of 365: Hot rods

This world is so enticing. So many things that make you want more. Food, cars, houses, entertainment. So accessible and easy to enjoy. And as the world makes advancements in technology, it'll be even more crazy to find things like 3D TVs and interactive computer screens. Next thing you now, they can make a holodeck from Star Trek.

i say all these things because it's harder for Christians to be in this world, among these things, and not be tempted by it. We can enjoy them, but it's easy to feel unsatisfied with just a few items. There'll always be a longing for more. At least, for me there is. Either that or the lack of it that drives the desire to have something that others have. Contentment is key, but it's such a struggle to dwell in. Well, giving myself some encouragement that this computer is still running fine and i'm not in a rush to pick another up. Then again, computers are just machines now. Further back in time, computers were like muscle cars for some Americans. Build-it-yourself, electronic hot rods to power the latest games. Not anymore. Now, i seek even more expensive stuff, but none i can pursue. None that i should. God must always come first. Anything before, it's an idol.

Day 205 of 365: Righteous deeds

Would it be bad to not be sensitive to God when good times pass and only call on Him during the bad? i think it's not bad, but it's definitely not healthy. A Christian's life should be in complete sync with God and His ways. Nothing falters, nothing skews. Focus is dead on the cross. God must be in every aspect of our lives.

Even though there are things that don't seem to fall into place after doing what is right, you have to wonder if anything bad after anything good is just an act of Satan being desperate in trying to tempt you away from God and away from doing His will. If that's the case, each bad thing should be an encouragement because we brought glory to God. Even that right attitude brought glory to God because we didn't let evil stand in our way. Our path of righteous deeds! Continue to do what is pleasing and not let the evil one push you away!