Ready for the Top Coat

I said I wasn't going to stay up late tonight. I've got a lot to do tomorrow but I wanted to write this before it goes too far away. (As is more apt to happen the older I get.)

I spent a good part of the day and into the evening doing something that I loathe. I built the cabinets for the vanity in our remodeled bathroom and today I sanded all the drawers. The vanity is all drawers. Big heavy drawers. (Maybe I'll come back and stick in a photo or two.)

Anyhow, it was a lot of sanding. I don't know what it is but I'd rather paint for a week than sand for a day.

For one thing, I know I'm going to be particular and take an inordinate amount of time to do it. I'm going to sand and primer and paint places that will never see the light of day once they're installed. I don't know why. I think it's my Dad's fault. Picky, picky, picky. "If you're not going to do it right… and all that." "Line up the slots in the screws, it will look finished." On cleaning the house (and other things); "you wouldn't buy it dirty, why would you keep it dirty?"

I mean, he was right of course and I'm normally glad I learned all that — but sometimes…!

God cares…

About the universe — and my bathroom!

I've started reading Francis Chan's book and watching some of the videos on crazylovebook.com and have been overwhelmed by not only the vastness of God's creation but perhaps even more so by His Masterful management of the minutia. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

What astounds me is that God takes such a personal interest in the smallest details of my life. I know that by now (I'll be 65 later this month) I shouldn't be surprised when He looks after my little needs, but I still am. Maybe not so much surprised as amazed. He has a universe to manage. It is so big that we can't begin to imagine how big it is regardless of the photos from the Hubble telescope, much less how big He has to be to oversee it all and keep it running smoothly.

And yet, He has time for me and my seemingly insignificant affairs. Of course He has told us over and over in His word that He takes our well being very seriously. So why shouldn't we just expect that He will?

Set Your Heart

This will be brief since I really need to be working on the remodeling.

Our Pastor presented a message Sunday on Ezra 9:4-8. You can listen to it here, or right click the link to download it. (There's lots more where that comes from at FBTC Audio.com)

It was interesting and timely. I realized that I couldn't recall ever having just sat down and read Ezra. So I started to read it and sure enough I found a little nugget that I could share here.

Ezra 7:9-10 "…the good hand of God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel." (NASB)

So there you have it.

Challenge to Writers

Max Lucado challenges writers to be certain they are writing from a place of integrity.

"You’ll never write better than you live.  No book is good enough of  overcome bad character. Live with integrity."

"No paragraph gets to play unless it contributes to the message of the  book."

I urge writers and wannabees to visit the site and read the entire article. I downloaded and printed it so I can read it and re-read it at my leisure.

While you're there, you probably will want to poke around the rest of the site.

Francis Chan - Crazy Love

UPDATE! I've started a new interactive, community driven blog dealing with our study of the book Crazy Love. It is at beyondcrazy.org. I'd like you to take a look when you have a few minutes.

I have started to read Francis Chan's book Crazy Love. I think it is one of those rare books that can make a real difference in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Later this summer our church is going to go through the book and videos in small groups. I have volunteered to be a facilitator. I am looking forward to it.

Francis offers usable and practical ideas to get us from where we are to where we should want to be in our relationship with the Almighty God of the universe. The concept is simple, the implementation — not so much.

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This is the text of the video. You might want to copy it and/or print it as a reminder of what it will take to walk the walk that Jesus walked.

Shamgar and Me

This is a long post. The evolution of it is hard to explain, especially since I can barely remember how it started and what is left from the original article. Nevertheless, I think I'm supposed to share it. I could leave out some of the background and observations (confessions) about myself, but I really want you to know where this is coming from.

It's very long, more like a little booklet than a blog post. You really should consider downloading and printing the PDF version of this one.

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Not about me!

I am (at least in my mind), for the most part, a loner wishing to be more people oriented. I like people just fine. Unfortunately I don’t have a naturally bubbly personality, sympathetic ear, the ability to remember names, or any of the other things that so-called “people persons” seem to posses. My wife, for example, is a person that most people are drawn to. She’s always been what we lovingly refer to as “an old people’s magnet.” She can stand in line at the grocery store and learn more about that little old man in ten minutes than I would find out in a month of Sundays. I think her secret is that she is genuinely interested in other people. She finds other people more fascinating than herself.

It’s not that I don’t wish I could relate better to people nor do I dislike them. For the most part, I find people interesting and pleasant to be around. I just don’t have (or haven’t cultivated) the tools and skills to relate to others the way more outgoing personality types do. (But God is working hard on me and, I think, making a little progress.)

How to Fill a Vacuum

And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2 (NASB)

The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 (NASB)

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Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about living a Holy Spirit filled life. Our Minister of Music has been talking about it as we’re singing music on the subject. One of the things he’s mentioned — actually, more like emphasized —several times is the idea that we don’t know where the Holy Spirit comes from when He fills us.

Intellectually we know from the Bible that we are filled at the moment of conversion with as much of the Holy Spirit as we’ll ever have or need. “Filling” is an expression that means allowing Him to take over our lives. It’s us yielding everything in and about our lives to His control.