Going without

I've learned a lot these past few weeks about me and about my spiritual walk.

And one of the ways it began was by trying to save money on our (my roommate and my) cable bill. We decided to get rid of the DVR and the digital channels so we had to change out the cable box. That box ended up not working with our TV setup and we got really busy the next few weeks, so we were without TV for about 4 weeks.

Not having TV readily available was refreshing. No Sportscenter during lunch. No easy way to just sit and zone out. No House at night. No sports during the evening. That forced me to read more during lunch and to find ways to be productive at night. That meant reading and spending more time with God.

It's been a forced change of behavior that has resulted in a long desired change of heart. I know it is my mission as a man to be the spiritual leader for my future wife and this "No TV" has really emphasized that. It's allowed me to spend more time in the Word and more time realizing how lucky I am to have her and the countless other blessings God has bestowed to a sinner like me.

My idea for this post is to encourage you to do without sometime to see where your heart really is. What is that?

High School Football

I went to a high school football game tonight with a group of guys, one who works at the high school where we enjoyed a really great game. During the game I got to thinking of why I didn't play football in high school and the only true reason I could remember was that I got hurt in middle school football and was scared to go to a bigger stage.

I wonder how life would have been different if I had tried out to play football, but honestly the more important thought that crept into my head is to question why I should be scared of anything.

God is my protector as well as yours and He will sustain us. Instead of worry, we as believers should all run to Him. Easier said than done, but with practice (much like football or lacrosse), you get better and perform at our best. In this case and in many more, I need to glorify Him.

Just some thoughts...

Men's Group

I feel COMPLETELY blessed to be in the Mens Group that I am in on Thursday mornings at 6 in the AM.

These past 4 weeks we have entirely immersed ourselves in the chapter on Prayer from Wayne Grudem's book, Systematic Theology. Through our time together, it's really inspired me to pray more and pray better. I think really putting yourself in a situation where you can focus on nothing more than God takes you to a place where it becomes the conversation.

I am really needing work on listening to God and by getting out of my room (where I work at home from) and outside into the heat and making myself get down on my knees, it puts me into His perspective and His mindset. Christ died for me and I wouldn't even get on my knees? It's sad but true. Luckily He has grace beyond what we, especially I, can comprehend. I will try to be better about my praying, but if/when I fail, He will catch me and I have my guys in the group to keep me accountable.

By the way, meeting at 6am is insane. It allows for great discussion because you're barely awake, your mind and heart are going 100mph and the majority of the guys are all sorts of jacked up on caffeine. Try it twice. You'll be hooked.

Learning About Myself and God in Situations

It's amazing the things it takes us to learn what we need to know from God.

For my example here, I turn to my recent car wreck. I had a beautiful "Hyper Blue" 2006 Mini Cooper S with only 25,900 miles on it. I babied that thing. I cherished it. It was my first car I was buying with my own money. And then on August 5, 2009, a 20 year old (or so) kid pulled out in front of me when I was doing 45-50, and I had no time to stop or swerve. I hit him and I hit him hard. Airbags deployed in both cars.

Nobody was hurt that bad, which I am forever grateful for, but certain circumstances lead up to that in which nobody is to blame, but it did make me curious to know why exactly it happened. How was God going to use me in this situation or how will he teach me.

The car teetered on being totaled or not... then I got a call.

"Your car had $19,000-$20,000 worth of damages"

Woah.

Searching for over two weeks for the "PERFECT" car, I found an older Mini that wasn't exactly what I was thinking of getting.

After buying that "Jet Black" 2005 Mini Cooper S with 46,000 miles on it, I've figured out that I do not need the best of the best for the material possessions I have and "need". I have also figured out that living without a car payment is a very good way to live, especially for someone about to get married.

Now the next step is that I am wondering if I failed in how God wanted me to speak with the guys that pulled out right in front of me. Or if I missed the opportunity to share Christ's love with the fresh-behind-the-ears college grad that came to pick me up for my Enterprise Rent-a-Car. But who am I to know? It's all in God's game plan and I will do the best I can with what I have... even if I don't have what I used to think was "the best."

I am forever grateful that He is so full of Grace. For I have failed over 1,000 times and will do so in the future, too.

Breakin' and Poppin' Moves

Enjoy this - Stand by me.

http://gizmodo.com/5231112/best-video-ive-seen-today-will-make-you-smile

Livable Streets

http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparency/web/0904/livable-streets.html