From F.F. Bruce's Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews
"There are many who are ready to tell us confidently what would and what would not be worthy of God; but in fact the only way to discover what is a worthy thing for God to do is to consider what God has already done. The person who says, "I could not have a high opinion of a God who would (or would not) do this or that," is not adding anything to our knowledge of God; he is simply telling us something about himself. We may be sure that all God does is worthy of himself...."
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Friday, 22 April 2011
Easter is Coming
I saw this over at Biblical Christianity. He asked what Bible verse was standing out in our minds as we consider Good Friday and Christ's work on the cross.
Romans 5:6
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
Do you see it all? We had no way to help ourselves and there was nothing we could offer. We did not deserve life and we did not deserve Christ. Further, we didn't need to become good on our own first. Christ died for the ungodly. God's perfect gift in God's perfect timing.
Monday, 18 April 2011
Today
Today I feel better.
Yesterday was wildly busy. I taught Sunday School, threatened several children if they so much as touched the library computer (which is now in my Sunday School room, future room of the church library), found a different place for Junior Church after it was determined that the broken light in my room scattered too much glass to clean up properly before class time, taught Junior Church, talked with some parents (whose children are responsible for such things as a broken light and a crayon war), and had friends over for supper. That last one: that was fun. These friends have 2 young boys (7 and around 2) and we had a great time playing, watching them play, and discussing all sorts of things both deep and fun. I really should have them over more often. Anyway, by the end of yesterday I was really tired.
Today I stopped. I took the day off from work, school, Sunday School, Junior Church, whatever else has to be done. I slept and read and took a nap and watched TV and read more and went for a little walk and ate fast food for lunch and built a puzzle and read some more.
Now I feel much better than I have in a long time and I think I can face the world again tomorrow.
Yesterday was wildly busy. I taught Sunday School, threatened several children if they so much as touched the library computer (which is now in my Sunday School room, future room of the church library), found a different place for Junior Church after it was determined that the broken light in my room scattered too much glass to clean up properly before class time, taught Junior Church, talked with some parents (whose children are responsible for such things as a broken light and a crayon war), and had friends over for supper. That last one: that was fun. These friends have 2 young boys (7 and around 2) and we had a great time playing, watching them play, and discussing all sorts of things both deep and fun. I really should have them over more often. Anyway, by the end of yesterday I was really tired.
Today I stopped. I took the day off from work, school, Sunday School, Junior Church, whatever else has to be done. I slept and read and took a nap and watched TV and read more and went for a little walk and ate fast food for lunch and built a puzzle and read some more.
Now I feel much better than I have in a long time and I think I can face the world again tomorrow.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
On Coping with Stuff
Here's the thing: I am determined to handle everything myself. That's what I do. Overwhelmed by schoolwork? No problem; I can cope. Too much happening at work? Hey, I'm the director; dealing with stuff is what I do. Life in general is too busy, too tough, and too tiring? I'll sleep next month; this month I'm taking care of everything.
(For the record: I know I've been getting some help, so if you're reading this and thinking, "Hey, I fed you ice cream when you were too overwhelmed to cope," understand that I fully acknowledge that and really, really appreciate it. That kept the emotional side under control.)
Right now I'm tired. Really, really, really tired. I've been putting in too many 11 hour days at work (that would be: more than 1 each week) and doing schoolwork and whatever else has to be done (cook, clean, teach Sunday School, prepare Junior Church stuff, Bible studies, socializing enough that people don't call me a hermit....). Plus, it's at the point where I can't switch off my mind and I'm not sleeping well and when I do sleep my dreams are tangled messes of everything going through my mind.
(As a side note: if you have children and are thinking that I'm whining because I don't know what busy is....stuff it. Single people have busy, overwhelming lives, too. It's just a different business which is sometimes caused by people who think married people have easy lives and tons of time to do stuff.)
It's time to stop that nonsense. Next week I'm taking a day off (it's my sick day from March 23 when I was actually sick; this is the first day I could take off). Further, I am not thinking about work or school that day. In May, I'm getting my Sunday School helper to take over teaching (I would do it now, but there's no time to get her the stuff by this Sunday and next Sunday is a review of this Sunday and then it's May). I have permission to get some of my staff to help with the admin stuff, so I'll arrange that starting next week. And sometimes, in the evenings, I'll order pizza and read a book or watch TV....and not feel guilty about not being productive. I'll invite a friend over so we can be unproductive together.
I'm done insisting that I can do everything on my own. I'm also done insisting that it all has to be perfect and that I have to be perfect (always prepared, coping with whatever comes along, dong it all so it's done right). Then maybe I'll reach the point where I can cope with whatever is left.
(For the record: I know I've been getting some help, so if you're reading this and thinking, "Hey, I fed you ice cream when you were too overwhelmed to cope," understand that I fully acknowledge that and really, really appreciate it. That kept the emotional side under control.)
Right now I'm tired. Really, really, really tired. I've been putting in too many 11 hour days at work (that would be: more than 1 each week) and doing schoolwork and whatever else has to be done (cook, clean, teach Sunday School, prepare Junior Church stuff, Bible studies, socializing enough that people don't call me a hermit....). Plus, it's at the point where I can't switch off my mind and I'm not sleeping well and when I do sleep my dreams are tangled messes of everything going through my mind.
(As a side note: if you have children and are thinking that I'm whining because I don't know what busy is....stuff it. Single people have busy, overwhelming lives, too. It's just a different business which is sometimes caused by people who think married people have easy lives and tons of time to do stuff.)
It's time to stop that nonsense. Next week I'm taking a day off (it's my sick day from March 23 when I was actually sick; this is the first day I could take off). Further, I am not thinking about work or school that day. In May, I'm getting my Sunday School helper to take over teaching (I would do it now, but there's no time to get her the stuff by this Sunday and next Sunday is a review of this Sunday and then it's May). I have permission to get some of my staff to help with the admin stuff, so I'll arrange that starting next week. And sometimes, in the evenings, I'll order pizza and read a book or watch TV....and not feel guilty about not being productive. I'll invite a friend over so we can be unproductive together.
I'm done insisting that I can do everything on my own. I'm also done insisting that it all has to be perfect and that I have to be perfect (always prepared, coping with whatever comes along, dong it all so it's done right). Then maybe I'll reach the point where I can cope with whatever is left.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
The Voice of Truth -- Casting Crowns
Sometimes the future scares me.
Sometimes it seems so big and I don't think I'll ever be ready to face it.
Sometimes all I have is the knowledge that God is in control and I do not need to fear.
Sometimes all I can do is cling to that and take a step forward.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Just Do Something
I recently read the book "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. It's a small book and a fairly easy read, and yet full of good stuff. I quite enjoyed it, both the topic and his writing.
The general idea is that knowing God's will for our lives is not that complicated. He wants us to be saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, rejoicing and giving thanks, bearing fruit, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Once you get that down....just do something. If you're genuinely wanting to follow God and become more Christlike, God won't let you wander out of His will. What career you choose, where you live, even who you marry -- as long as you're not sinning in your choices (getting illegal work, abandoning your family, marrying a nonchristian) -- will be God's will for your life.
See, I think sometimes we spend a lot of time worrying and praying and seeking advice (and the latter 2 are very good ideas) and never doing anything. We use "seeking God's will" as a reason to never do anything.
I learned this when I was trying to decide what Bible college to attend. After months of gathering information about different schools and talking with people I finally reached the point that I knew that looking into more colleges and programs was just putting off making a decision. So I prayed about it, looked at all the information, and choose the one that worked best for me in terms of theology, course offerings, and program design. I didn't wait until it "felt right" or until God "told" me to go; I just choose and got on with the process of applying.
So there you are: obey God, follow God, serve God...and then do stuff.
The general idea is that knowing God's will for our lives is not that complicated. He wants us to be saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, rejoicing and giving thanks, bearing fruit, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Once you get that down....just do something. If you're genuinely wanting to follow God and become more Christlike, God won't let you wander out of His will. What career you choose, where you live, even who you marry -- as long as you're not sinning in your choices (getting illegal work, abandoning your family, marrying a nonchristian) -- will be God's will for your life.
See, I think sometimes we spend a lot of time worrying and praying and seeking advice (and the latter 2 are very good ideas) and never doing anything. We use "seeking God's will" as a reason to never do anything.
I learned this when I was trying to decide what Bible college to attend. After months of gathering information about different schools and talking with people I finally reached the point that I knew that looking into more colleges and programs was just putting off making a decision. So I prayed about it, looked at all the information, and choose the one that worked best for me in terms of theology, course offerings, and program design. I didn't wait until it "felt right" or until God "told" me to go; I just choose and got on with the process of applying.
So there you are: obey God, follow God, serve God...and then do stuff.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Church Library
We're getting a church library! We have a vision statement, a mission statement, a place to have it, and a few books and DVDs. It's a good start!
The vision statement gives the long-term goals. We wanted to rival the great libraries of Europe, but the elder took that part out. He did let us keep the desire for a fireplace when we get a permanent room for the library. Right now we're leasing part of a school for church and the library will share my Sunday School room.
The mission statement gives the day-to-day workings of the library. It's 2 pages of incredible detail so that nothing goes wrong ever (ha, ha...aren't we optimists!). Actually, the point was to get things set up properly now so that we have fewer issues further down the line.
One of the elders is going to make bookcases for us. He asked how many I wanted and I wasn't sure how optimistic to be, since we're depending on donations to get the books for now. We decided on 4 bookcases based on the amount of space we have, along with a filing cabinet and a desk (that his wife will be very happy to get out of their house).
I have a few books and DVDs here that have been donated; the rule now is that all donations must be brought to the church. I also have several books, mostly from school, that I plan to donate, leaving me room for this year's school books. I do need to make sure I only bring in the books I haven't written in, though. A couple other people told me that they have piles of books that we can have as well. From what I've heard, the only issue we may have is not many (or not any) books for kids, and at least 3 children are excited about the library already. We'll have to see how that works out.
It's all very exciting since I've always wanted to be a librarian and I'll get to play with books!
The vision statement gives the long-term goals. We wanted to rival the great libraries of Europe, but the elder took that part out. He did let us keep the desire for a fireplace when we get a permanent room for the library. Right now we're leasing part of a school for church and the library will share my Sunday School room.
The mission statement gives the day-to-day workings of the library. It's 2 pages of incredible detail so that nothing goes wrong ever (ha, ha...aren't we optimists!). Actually, the point was to get things set up properly now so that we have fewer issues further down the line.
One of the elders is going to make bookcases for us. He asked how many I wanted and I wasn't sure how optimistic to be, since we're depending on donations to get the books for now. We decided on 4 bookcases based on the amount of space we have, along with a filing cabinet and a desk (that his wife will be very happy to get out of their house).
I have a few books and DVDs here that have been donated; the rule now is that all donations must be brought to the church. I also have several books, mostly from school, that I plan to donate, leaving me room for this year's school books. I do need to make sure I only bring in the books I haven't written in, though. A couple other people told me that they have piles of books that we can have as well. From what I've heard, the only issue we may have is not many (or not any) books for kids, and at least 3 children are excited about the library already. We'll have to see how that works out.
It's all very exciting since I've always wanted to be a librarian and I'll get to play with books!
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