Do you remember the men in old movies? Slow talking, respectful, strong (mentally/physically/spiritually), etc. They fought well, when they needed to, and shook hands after it. They were stern and disciplined well. They loved their families and would die for them in an instant. They were rough around the edges, of sound mind and pure heart.
What happened? Where did those men go? How do we get them back?
I hate to quote the song, but I want to be like John Wayne. Or at least the characters he played. Strong, moral, dedicated, hard working. I want to be able to teach people like he does in the movie “The Cowboys.” I want my words to be that meaningful, for my actions to be an example.
I’m hoping I won’t need to wait till I’m 40-50 in order to act like that, but I know a sure fire way to head in that direction is to spend time with men who are already like John Wayne. I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by men who have learned a thing or two and are interested in sharing those things with knuckleheads like me. Now all i need to do is, well, follow through. I guess that’s the first step in a long journey. I know it will be worth it.
“In each of us lie good and bad, light and dark, art and pain, choice and regret, cruelty and sacrifice. We’re each of us our own chiaroscuro, our own bit of illusion fighting to emerge into something solid, something real. We’ve got to forgive ourselves that. I must remember to forgive myself. Because there is a lot of grey to work with. No one can live in the light all the time.” -Libba Bray
How does one, as a Christian, get his or her blog recognized across the internet? One of three ways:
1) Re-post / comment on / critique other notable Christians’ blogs, essays or books.
2) Say completely ridiculous things pertaining to faith and/or make fun of other Christians.
3) Post intelligent, informed and well researched ideas and gain intelligent, informed and well researched readers.
I guess I’ve done a little bit of all three in this short post, but I’m going to try my darnedest to start posting, and keep posting, in line with the third.
Love always, Joe
“Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’ Let the light of your face shine on us.”
A friend of mine tweeted today, “There is a difference between knowing of God and knowing God.” I’ve said this many times myself, but when I really stop to think about it, do I really know him? Really? If I knew him as well as I should, I wouldn’t wonder about how I will provide for myself or how I will be able to conquer a new task. I would just know he is providing in every area in my life.
In this Psalm, David seems to almost be mocking those around him who wonder how they will provide for themselves, asking God to fill his heart with joy when they are blessed with grain and wine. David knows that he alone cannot make it; he can’t fully survive apart from God and his provision. If God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, shouldn’t we be trusting thay he can do the same for us? Jesus goes even further in the Gospel of Matthew and say don’t worry! Who of you by worrying can add even a day to your life?
David closes with saying he finds rest in God alone. Augustine echoed that sentiment saying that he is restless until he finds rest in God. So let’s stop worrying about tomorrow. God already has that covered. Stare today in the face and bless those around you with the love that comes from our Provider.
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” Psalm 3:5-6 NIV
What do you fear? As a child I was quite afraid of the dark. With all the horror movies and scary tv shows I watched, it was easy for me to assume that someone could be waiting for me, that some monster could be lurking around the next corner, somewhere in that deep blackness. Looking back I know there was nothing there, and even then I think I was smart enough to realize the boogieman isn’t real, but the unknown always outweighed my rational thoughts.
I’m finding that this same fear of the unknown is still present in my (young) adult life, but now it has nothing to do with turning off the lights. Many questions arise: where will I go? What will I do? What SHOULD I be doing? Have I been wrong this whole time? The amount of unknown circling around my head is quite frankly overwhelming and distracts me from what I do know. David, on the other hand, was not distracted.
David was not concerned about a vocation or location, he was concerned about his life! His son was trying to kill him and take the kingdom for himself. By all rights, David should have been plenty scared, but that was not his reaction. As he writes in this psalm, though his enemies outnumbered him and closed in on all sides, God was still there for him, protecting and eventually coming to his rescue.
We serve a God that is more powerful than armies, more powerful than circumstance, and more powerful than the unknown. Just as he provided for David and kept him safe, God will keep and protect his followers.
It’s time to stop losing sleep over the unknown and start resting in God’s great love.