If it ain't broke

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," was wisdom my grandfather shared with me. For the most part it is wisdom that has served me well, yet, deep within me is a drive to improve what currently exists. There seems to be a tension between the philosophies of "leave well enough alone" and "there must be something better." Just because I love my wife and am satisfied with my marriage doesn't mean I quit trying to look for ways to improve our relationship. Within me is a desire to be a better husband, father, pastor and Christian. But the drive to improve may be counter productive if I can't have peace with who I am. Perhaps the balance is not between being satisfied with the current condition and the desire to improve it, but the goal should be altering our current condition so our thoughts, actions and words are in line with God's will. I am most at peace when I sense that God is indeed first in my life and I surrender the current condition and the possible future improvements at the cross of Christ. What do you think?

Forgive and Forget

Why do people hurt us? Why do we hurt? How do we move past our hurt? How do we heal the hurts we have? One of the best books I've read that addresses these questions is `Forgive and Forget' by Lewis Smedes. He writes, "Forgiveness is God's invention for coming to terms with a world in which people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. God began by forgiving us and invites us all to forgive each other." Forgiveness is the path to healing the hurts we don't deserve.

The Fray
"How to save a life" is a great song by the Fray. I love how they have captured the lost desparation of the present when something went terribly wrong in the past with a friend and the hopelessness of not knowing how to fix it. "I would have stayed up with you all night had I known how to save a life." As Christians, we follow the hope that Jesus Christ offers us. This hope through the love of Jesus by dying for us is what we have to offer the hopeless. If the hopeless will hear and receive God's message, their lives can be transformed from the inside out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHg2q5M6WnY

Rubbing the pain away

Depression, heartache, difficulty and pain are battles each of us face from time to time.
When my five-year-old son bumps his head, he wants to sit on my lap while I rub the spot on his head that hurts. After a few seconds of rubbing, the pain subsides and he is able to return to his play. Sometimes he rubs his own head but other times he needs his Dad to rub his head for him.
Many people are comforted by the popular phrase, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Although comforting, it is not consistent with Scripture for two reasons. First, it implies that God gives you trouble, even piles it on until right before your breaking point. Second, it implies that we should be able to handle whatever difficulty we face since we are never given more than we can bear.
Each of us will face difficult situations in life. Each of us will experience disease, heartache and even death. Peter says, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). God does not cause our suffering or “give” us trouble, but God does allow life to be lived with all its ups and downs.
To say we will never get more than we can handle puts us in a state of defeat because I have experienced a few things in life that I simply could not handle. As a matter of fact, I’m thoroughly convinced that each of us will face tragedy at some point that is more than we can handle by ourselves. In those times when my life is unbearable, I must depend on God to help me.
There is another common phrase that I like much better and is more in line with Scripture. It is a prayer that goes, “Lord, help me to remember that nothing will happen today that you and I can’t handle together.” On our own, we don’t have the strength or ability to overcome every challenge. When the challenge is too big for us, we admit our weakness and rely on God’s strength to carry us through.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
There are times when I “bump my head” and I can rub it on my own. There are other times when I need to crawl up on God’s lap and have him rub my wounded head for me. God promises to be with us on the mountain and in the valley. When you feel overwhelmed or distressed, depend on God. May you have peace in your heart and mind as you sit on the lap of the God of Peace. May being close to God bring you comfort as he rubs the wound in your soul.