October « 2008 « Journeyman Journal

Sacrifice or No?

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:16-17, NLT

This is one of my favorite Psalms. It shows King David’s more “human” side. His repentant heart poured out to God after his sin has been discovered and revealed by a close friend. In the middle of his confession to God, he utters the words above.

They are very much like Hosea 6:6, which I have blogged about before. This question about what God really desires is intriguing to me. Even in the Old Testament God demands a sacrifice, but here again someone who knows God intimately knows that the ritual of the sacrifice (just following the rule) is not enough. God wants more. God requires more.

God wants more than just our obedience (although He wants that too). God wants more than our “just enough” religion. He wants more than a piece of our lives.

He wants it all…He wants our heart, mind, soul, and body (I think I read that somewhere). This is not an easy God we are dealing with here. He doesn’t let us off the hook easy. He requires sacrifice…and then some. Giving Him my time, money, and skill is one thing. Giving Him everything is something else. And that’s what He wants. He wants me…and He wants you.

16.10.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Failing Again…

Monday, October 13th, 2008

I am not even sure where to start this post. I have wrestled with God on this subject more times than I care to admit. But He won’t let it go…of course, He shouldn’t let it go. I’ve even talked to Anita about it. I have the best of intentions, but I am failing once again. And I’m failing at something that I cannot fail at…it’s too important.

So I am once again (not this is not the first time: Exhibit A) confessing my failure and asking for your prayers to do better…to ACTUALLY do better.

At the beginning of the year (or the end of last year if you want to be technical) I set out two resolutions for the year (you can read the entire post here):

Getting to Know God Better: This one has actually been a huge success…thank you Lord!
Developing better Family Devotional Habits: This one is where I am failing. I just cannot seem to make this one stick…and it is my responsibility. I can’t point the finger at anyone else. My only excuse? BUSY. How stupid is that? I can find time for all sorts of other things, but not one of the most critically important things in my life–my kid’s spiritual development???? W.R.O.N.G

So, I begin again. I admit that I am starting with a serious lack of confidence on my part. I am going to try to make things much simpler…no gimmicks, no “fancy” devotional book. I simply want to spend time as a family reading God’s Word, talking about it and Him, sharing what’s going on in our lives, andspending time with God in prayer together. I want my kids to know, love, andwalk with God—that really is the deepest desire of my heart.

Perhaps I am making it more difficult than it has to be. For sure, this is a spiritual battle (that I have lost up to this point). So I leave the results in God’s hands, but I have to get moving. Too much is at stake. Sigh…pray for me!

13.10.2008 Family, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings 2 Comments

Light Bulb Moment

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

During my devotional reading this morning I had a “light bulb moment”..two actually…

Here was the first:

We see a strange phenomenon in our culture: Jesus is almost universally respected as a “good teacher,” yet His actual teachings—many of them, anyway—are almost universally reviled.

There is a lot of truth in that statement, and I had not noticed the oxymoron before. How can people say Jesus was a great teacher and then throw out everything he taught? Here is number two:

Much of Christian life is tension between two impulses: the desire to be liked and respected by the world, and the desire to know God and be like Jesus.

That’s toe-stepping stuff right there. I must admit to being guilty of this fighting this tension often in my own life and spiritual journey. I wish I could even say I think I am usually on the right side of the tension. Once again, more to work on in my walk with God.

In case you’re interested, the passage that these two quotes are in reference to is Matthew 10:17-25. And the devotional itself is At His Feet. I highly recommend this devotional if you are looking for one.

12.10.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Waffles and Knight Rider

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Tonight was one of those impromptu family nights that I absolutely love. They seem to come around more often in the fall when the weather turns a little colder and everyone just wants to huddle up together.

Our theme tonight was waffles and Knight Rider. For dinner I made “from scratch” waffles (they were AWESOME). After dinner we all sat down to watch the new version of Knight Rider. I remember watching this 80′s version with my family. No, it’s not quite the same but the boys love the car and the action—and we are all together.

Family memories are built on stuff like waffles and Knight Rider. Even if the kids don’t remember it…I know I will. Just enjoying each other’s company makes it worth while. And did I mention the waffles were good?

So…what are some of your favorite family memories?

11.10.2008 Family, Misc Ramblings 3 Comments

Friday Fodder – 10/10/08

Friday, October 10th, 2008

I absolutely love watching people getting scared (I love it even more if it’s in person). Here is a good compilation of scared folks…enjoy…

Scared Silly

Happy Friday!

10.10.2008 Friday Fodder, Humor, Video No Comments

Hope Springs Eternal

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”
-Alexander Pope

The themes of hope and peace have been front and center this week. God has been speaking them into my life in more ways than one. Through His Word. Through others. At church. In my devotions.

Our times certainly call for a measure of hope and peace—we are getting enough fear and anxiety to last a few lifetimes lately. But this idea of hope and peace is not so simple as it might at first appear. It’s not so easy to shut out the world and simple decide to have hope and peace.

We have to hope in something. And we we need to get peace from somewhere. The good news is that both of these come from the original author…God Himself. He doesn’t just give peace and hope. He IS Peace. He IS Hope. And He promises to give them both to us if we will simply turn to Him…walk with Him…trust in Him.

Sounds simple right?

That’s another theme I’ve been working on recently…making things simpler. Simple does not mean easy, it just means getting rid of the clutter and the complicated. Focusing on what’s important.

I’m working on it…

I pray that God, the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13, NLT

08.10.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Are You All In?

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

I have had some technical difficulties this last week with my blog (couldn’t load the page where I actually create a post)…but I’m back…and then I’ll be gone until this weekend on the hunt.

I have actually had a topic on my heart for the past few days that I’m glad I finally get to share…I’m so impatient, but it has given time for God to continue to work on this area in my life. It comes out of John chapter 12:

Those who love their life in this world will lose it.
Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
John 12:25, NLT

On the surface seems pretty innocent, but it’s anything but “innocent”. This is hard teaching here from Jesus. Think about the implications…if we love our life in this world (at all) then we will lose eternity. We have to “care nothing” for our life in this world—we are supposed to be “other worldly minded”. I don’t know about you, but that’s not always the way I walk and live. Quite often I am very “this world” oriented.

But what Jesus is really getting at here is whether we are a believer or a follower of Christ. Do we just believe His words and teachings OR do we actually follow them? Are we really developing a relationship with Christ or are we simply “practicing Christianity” (do we even know the difference)? Can I honestly say that I hate my life in this world and that my full hope is in the eternal life that’s coming?

Where is my heart? Where is my mind? What’s my focus?

Am I “All In” or am I holding a little back for the next round?

These are the hard questions God is working on in my life…

07.10.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Friday Fodder 10-03-08

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

This is something ONLY guys would do or even think of doing. Having a few beers probably didn’t hurt either…

Red Neck Ride

Happy Friday!

03.10.2008 Friday Fodder, Guy Stuff, Humor, Video 1 Comment

Hunting Fever

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

One week from today I will be in the middle of Wyoming hunting antelope for 5 days (hopefully it will only take 1 or 2). This is my second year hunting (you can see the results of last year’s hunt here) and my first year with a buck tag. There are five of us going on this particular hunt this year and I can’t wait to get up there and get started!

I officially have hunting fever…I am so ready to hit the road and get started. Hopefully I come home with some meat for the fridge and something like this to hang on the wall (in the garage of course):