Why do I blog

I just read my Friend Eric's blog ( www.challengingnormal.com ). Eric is one of the most awesome guys I know and he wrote a thing about why he blogs. That got me thinking I should probably tell why I blog. Here it is in bullet points...

-- It's a way to discipline myself. The Bible says “A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.” (Proverbs 15.28) By blogging something everyday it helps me get in a routine. If I can get in a routine in this area, maybe I can get in routines in other areas.

-- I have a lot of stuff that flies around in my head and the more I can get out the easier it is to stay focused.

-- It lets me remember things and share things with people I like.

That's it I think. My blog is about stuff in my life, heart and head. So it's really just for me, but maybe you'll get something out of it.

It's all how you look at it

Last night, while watching t.v., I found a station showing HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (the cartoon version). I was so excited. The Grinch cartoon is like the "official" start of the Christmas season for me.

I called for my daughters to come and watch this awesome holiday masterpiece with me and my wife. My little girls came running into the room and then came to an abrupt halt. The words they said next stunned me. "OH! We thought you were watching the REAL Grinch." My wife and I instantly shouted out, "This IS the real Grinch!". My girls quickly disagreed and went back to their room to finish the little game they had been playing.
I sat there amazed. The "real Grinch" they are referring to is that Jim Carry piece of trash movie remake in 2000, of the most awesome Christmas cartoon ever. Whenever I see the Jim Carry/Grinch on t.v. I turn it. How can they think the Jim Carry/Grinch beats the cartoon verse? That version is stupid to me. That's not how the Grinch is supposed to be.

As I sat there in disbelief, I was suddenly struck by a thought. I wondered if this is how some of the old people at my church feel, when they see giant video screens, colored lights and a guy with a fohawk / untucked shirt / dirty looking jeans on stage leading worship. Do they stand there and think, "That's not howworship is supposed to be, that's stupid."?

Maybe this Christmas I should take a closer look at what worship really is . And maybe I should begin cutting the old people in my church some slack.

It's about time

Lately God has been dealing with me about time management. Anyone who knows me, knows that is not my strong point. That is not my weak point. Hey, I sometimes don't even think I know where that point is. My inability to manage time wisely has been know to cause problems. This problem becomes even larger in light of the fact that God's kingdom is all about timing.

When we see the word "time" in the Bible, it usually is one of two different Greek words. The first, is the Greek word CHRONOS. CHRONOS means the passage of time. Day after day, month after month, year after year, etc... we see this in Eccl. 3. This is where we get our English word "chronological" from. The second is the Greek word "KAIROS". KAIROS means an opportunity, a favourable occasion, a right time, a special moment. It is a temporary moment to be seized or lost. We see this in Luke 18.

If I am to be the person God wants me to be, I must master both CHRONOS and KAIROS.

Mastering CHRONOS will require planning and self discipline. By planning, I am able to make investments today that will return good fruit in the future. An example would be taking my daughter on a date now, so she will form an idea of what a date should be like, long before some punk boy comes knocking on my door. By having self discipline,I am able to actually put my plans into action.

Mastering KAIROS will require time spent with God. I must learn to hear His voice clearly and quickly. Kairos moments from God are invitations to live at the next level. These invitations are temporary offers. If they are embraced they transforms lives forever, if they are missed they never come again.

My deepest prayer in this season of my life is that I not waste anymore TIME. I pray that for you as well.