Fathers Day 2009

Fathers day had a very rough start for me... from both ends.

Thank God for community. Thank God for my family at Crossroads. I'd be a mess today if God hadn't put these people in my life to hold me up at rough times like this.

Thank God.

How are you today?

I went to the community center to exercise a few days ago and as I was leaving I passed a woman in the hallway with her kids. I asked her how her how she was doing, and her answer suprised me.

"Blessed" she said, followed with a genuine smile.

I stopped for a moment and had to digest her response.

I smiled and thought for a moment, then asked her if I was correct in assuming that she is a Christ follower. She said that she was.. of course.

After I left, I began to think about what she said, and asked myself why I don't answer with a similar response when asked... I never, ever say blessed. It's always good, or fine, or great... never blessed.

I am blessed, EXTREMELY blessed.. but apparently I don't see it enough.. apparently I don't have as much gratitude as I should, or I would answer with a response such as she did...

Maybe I'm just used to lying and saying good.. I'm not always good. I have a lot of good days, and usually feel good.. but I have some days that aren't so great either. I have some days that really just suck to be honest... why don't I say it?

I guess the problem with me is a little bit of both. I have a lot of work to do on me, a lot... I need to get better at being honest in the way of letting people who really care know how I am feeling, and not feeling the need to act like everything is great all the time, because it's not. Just as importantly, I need to write myself yet another gratitude list.. right now... because I've got some serious issues inside myself if I have to sit back and really think about how I'm blessed.

I'm out.

Notes on paying the cost..

Some notes from today's message...

Revolutions go against the grain so there is always opposition.

Once you choose to lead, you'll be under huge pressure to reconsider your choice to comprimise, to dumb it down or give up.

A revolutionary life costs.

Someone will not like you or how you live - you may lose friends.

People want you to go with the flow.

When we follow Him, there will be a price!

Anything worth having comes at a cost.

*** if we aren't experiencing a cost, we are NOT following Jesus, but rather doing religion.

When people lie/persecute us, it's part of the cost.

Police called on me?

Ok yesterday was just great...

I have felt as if I've been dealing with quite a bit of persecution for being a Christian where I live at recently.. so I was reading Matthew 5:10-12 which reads - "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

All of these things are true.. I have been persecuted because of righteousness as I have chosen not to involve myself with some activities and talk with people which I felt was against what God wants for me... I have been insulted openly, and have been lied about. After reading this, I was glad. What happened after I read this was truly amazing..

Ok so I see this old woman sitting in the lobby, and since no one else was around I go and sit down next to her after asking if I could. She said it was ok, so I proceeded to start conversation with her. She had a head injury as well as a back injury. I asked her if I could pray for her and she said she'd love me to.. well I began to pray and in the middle of our talk with God someone on staff at the hospital came out and asked me what I was there for. I said that I was there waiting on a friend and she said ok and walked away. Right as we ended our prayer, two police officers came in and took me out of the building. They asked me why I was there, what I was doing, and said that the hospital staff called them because I was apparently bothering the lady I was praying for. I explained the situation and they did not believe me, so they ran my information and shortly after, they reluctantly let me go. I must admit I was a bit frustrated at first, but only moments later I remembered what I was reading in Matthew and I began to smile.

Just a few years back a run in with the police was not a good thing.. today it still isn't, but at least I didn't do anything wrong - and what a thing to have the police called on me for.. prayer in public.

- I'm out!