Good Points and Bad Points

So I recently decided to go down the road of real self evaluation. The only evaluation many people say that best helps you is with yourself…. You know the Good points and Bad Points about yourself stuff. Who was it that decided that this is the best approach to helping you? I say it is stupid because you have to tear yourself down just to try building it back up again. Then I started reading this book called “Me, Myself and Bob” that a friend of mine let me borrow. While I am not finished with it, I realized something about that book. It was making me think about me. Phil Vischer writes about how he tried to make something out of his imagination. I find it interesting that how even though my friend had some idea that I was trying to write a book out of my imagination, he didn’t know how it would impact me to realize things in my own life were going. How I have tried and tried to make a mark in this world. But somehow in my crazy mind, people think that I make more mistakes I feel than progress. They say I have no plans for the way my life should go. While that may be true, I would say that I have tried to make many goals in my life that have either failed in the beginning or down the road a piece to help me learn and try something new and imaginative. I find it harder and harder to keep picking myself up whether from my own bonehead mistakes or outside factors. I have realized that my crazy mind can make up much of things that may skew my reality. Phil Vischer talks about in his book how he had no money, no connections and no clues what he was getting himself into. While I mirror that thought recently in my life, I started writing down my list called Good Points / Bad Points. This list scary enough, since this might be the fifth or sixth draft I have made to this list since I first wrote one down in high school around 20 years ago, showed some same appearances that were bad about myself still there 20 years later. I am happy to say there were a few more good points I have written down about my accomplishments and behavior. Somehow though, I feel more focused on the bad things instead of looking at the good things. I was reading in my quiet time on March 7, 2008 the book of Isaiah in the 24th chapter about how he saw the world then and for the future. What I understand and makes me feel better is that there were those many years ago like Isaiah, Job and others dealing with very hard life decisions and actions toward them that made them question and still seek God like me. Isaiah writes how all he can see is doom, doom and more doom. The word of God or also known as the Holy Bible is filled with many truths and assistances for even today’s problems that were written thousands of years ago. In the version of the Bible called the Message, I found a very compelling story of the Earth’s future back then. Isaiah wrote, I believe because of this story in Chapter 24, all of his good points and bad points in later chapters. I am glad to know that I have made progress with a longer Good points list. Now I wonder what book by someone best fit you. What are your Good Points / Bad Points lists telling you as well? I hope you find peace with it. As for that friend who pointed me to that book by Phil Vischer which is a story about dreams and God, I say thank you.

Be blessed!

Brad

When Is Enough Really Enough

I have heard the phrases “Enough is Enough” and “Enough with that nonsense” all my life. Why is it that those phrases are so shallow. When I hear Enough is Enough it makes me laugh today. Parents make idle threats of taking their children to the car 14 times and never do it. Parents also threatened to punish them but end up bribing them with toys or food to make them behave better. Why do we want to say things we don’t mean and Act without purpose? Is it because we have not learned pride and humility within ourselves or have we become idolators of ourselves? I have realized that we as humans are guilty of both. How do we fix this? I believe it is slowly done by following a few steps. I found some of those understandings in the following verses: Colossians 3:2-4 talks about setting our minds on the things not of this earth and focus on Christ who has died for our sins and helps us through all things. Further down in this chapter in verses 9 and 10 it tells us to not lie to each other. I believe humility can also be learned in another great book in the Bible called Romans. In chapter 12 verses 1-3, it teaches we are to try and be pleasing to God in all that we do and that no one is better than another. I must confess that this part is very hard for me to attune to and live out a lot of days. I look most of the time at the wrongs people do to me and that I am better than them because I am a Christian and what talents I bring make me the best for a job or a position. Of course when I am so narrow focused, I forget that I can always be replaced in anything I do and God can show me my faults. I have to do self evaluations and God always seems to remind me to be humble and I am only as good as He allows me to proceed. It is true I believe “Pride does come before the fall.” In the last few years I have realized the humor in situations like Parents with little children for example. I am glad that I do not have that responsibility to discipline children since I seem to be disciplining myself every time I forget humility and place idols of me before God. I am glad I know what “Enough is Enough” means and that God has not had enough yet for me to continue to grow. I hope that we all can learn from these words in the Bible. So what do you think about that?

Be blessed!


Brad

Been Caught Speeding

Have you ever been caught speeding? Whether you deserve the ticket or not you are guilty of that violation. Now that you have this debt to pay to society, how are you going to do it? What if you can’t afford to pay the fine at that moment or maybe never? Some can say it is not fair or right if I can’t afford it. Let’s say in addition to the ticket you can’t pay off your house mortgage, your car note or your $70,000 credit card debt. Since you can’t pay for the ticket or debt, the government comes to garnish your wages and then takes your house from you to pay off the debts. Now you have no money, no house and you still have $70,000 debt in credit cards. How is it ever going to turn around?
In Luke 7:36-50, it is shown how someone with nothing to pay for the debts owed, had their debts cancelled. One man had a debt of 500 denarii which means 500 days of wages owed and it was all cancelled. I believe this passage is teaching about compassion and forgiveness just like Jesus forgives the sins of a woman. Is it not great to know that compassion and forgiveness shown by God through His son Jesus, he forgives us all of everything we have done wrong regardless of what we can think or say? Which of us can show love for God more just by having our speeding tickets and so much more wiped clean from our records? I can’t answer that but I do know that God loves us more than we can ever love Him. He even allowed His son to die for all our debts. I hope this encourages us all to be more understanding of and thankful for our debts that he can wipe clean if we just ask Jesus in our hearts and lives. Thank you God!

Be blessed!


Brad

All Things Are Possible

When you did something important in your life, how did you do it? Did you go at it with a plan in mind? Did you go on instinct? Whatever your initial move, the beginning had promise and drive to a hopeful great conclusion. What percentage did you give the move? I have always heard in my life that you need to give your 110%, like the extra 10% was even possible. I have tried to give that 110% in everything I do that is important. Other things in my life are taught or instinctual like; brushing my teeth, taking a shower or driving a car. When you or I do something does faith or fate ever enter the equation? I believe that faith plays a large part in aiding our successes in life. I also believe it is there in failures as well. Faith in failures aids to help guide us through those difficult pains.

In the book of Philippians, there is a verse that gives me great comfort and hope to conquer whatever in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I get down, depressed and uncertain sometimes but then I remember this verse which helps me through those times. The chapter is 4 and the verse is 13. It says, “I can do everything through Christ who strengths me.” In another translation it says, “I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength.” This verse especially speaks to me more recently with changes in my life. It is telling me that all things are possible if I can just lean on Jesus freely. There is no bank, job, news report or television show that I have seen that can give you that guarantee. When you go for a loan on a business or to buy a house, are they telling you that all things are possible? Are they sticking by you no questions asked? Most will stop your dream if they know you can't financially pay it off totally. I am thankful for God’s free gift of His son Jesus that makes all things possible. There are no deeds to be performed or guidelines to meet. We can be fearless for and through Him because He will always be in our corner. Thank you God! How do you feel about that?

Be blessed!

Brad