So I was considering the option of people 'maybe attending' an event, say like on facebook. Personally, I love the option of selecting 'maybe' because it creates the possibility of sidestepping commitment. I don't have to secure my place at an event thus committing my time and place on my social calender. However, by saying 'not attending,' you have shut yourself off to the option of going to that event. For no apparent reason, while in the shower I was thinking about this set of options...You RSVP to almost any event on earth securing or rejecting the invitation.
What about your arrival to heaven? Whats your RSVP look like for that day? People sometimes treat it as if there is a 'maybe attending' option and that 'yes' or 'no' aren't the only responses. We are all guilty of, at times, treating life as if we just checked the 'maybe' box. Our lives, at times, show mixed responses to what we choose when asked 'Whats your heavenly RSVP?' If 'yes' was checked, then why do our lives not always display that? Do people look at you and know, through your actions and life, that you checked the 'yes' box? I know I've failed in displaying this attitude before and know it'll probably happen again...BUT that shouldn't ever be my attitude. I should be living in a way that says 'you bet i checked yes and I'm gonna do the best I can the show people that.' I signed up for the commitment when I said yes to Jesus Christ and my heavenly arrival. *I feel like all these thoughts and becoming jumbled and mushed together, so i apologize if that is your thought reading this* What things in our life create confusion for people regarding the choice we've made? Is it our bias about our religious opinions? Do we discredit anything that is different from our unique view into this life? I'd bet each of us have something we could think of in that area... WHAT IS IT? A verse I used a couple posts ago also very much applies..
2 Peter 1:10-11 says, '10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'
Christ is with you and in you in everything you do...don't be afraid of showing it! love y'all - ryan
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Come gather 'round, its prayer time..
Hello readers. This is a little step away from my usual posts, but as I just finished a long phone conversation with a friend, I was thinking of the several things in my life that could definately use a baptism of prayer and direction. So who better to share it with than my handful of readers :)
1). I am currently in the beginning stages of planning a missions trip to Mexico with one of my friends and small group leaders, Aaron Carnahan. Having spent a portion of my life on the mission field, I've seen the incredible impact God can have on people when they are taken out of their 'orb' of life and reminded what life is really about. SO, with that being said, God had really put it on my heart to take that experience and share it with people the best way I know how.. by leading a team to Mexico to experience first-hand what an impact God wants to have on people. Please pray that first and foremost, God will direct each step taken in this process and open or potentially close any doors He sees fit in these planning stages. Also, that people would prayerfully consider committing to this project and investing time and potentially finances to the advancement of our trip.
2). This past week I was introduced to an idea of one of my friends and sister-in-Christ for a local youth/college age worship gathering. The idea is to bring God's church together for a time of nothing but worship, teaching, and fellowship. It would not be hosted or sponsored by any one church, but rather be a place where denomination is irrelevant. People could simply see their brothers and sisters in Christ as ONE body working together for the ONE purpose, praising His name and reaching the lost. It would be heavily encouraged that people bring their 'lost' friends and catch a glimpse of something so much bigger than what their living for. Please pray that God will raise up people to lead and direct this potential ministry and for musicians, speakers, a location, etc. to all be a part of making this thing work. Pray for God's direction and moving in people's heart, but above all that God will do ALL the planning and directing, not us.
3). Within the past week, two of my friend's grandma's have passed away. I know death is a part of life, but it is always hard losing a loved one. Please pray for the familys of Matt Knobloch and Emily Moser as they rejoice in knowing there grandmas are finally home, but also comfort those who are dealing with the loss.
Those are just a couple of things on my heart today and the last few days.. I appreciate your prayers and look forward to sharing how God has worked in each of these ways at a later time..
love y'all - ryan
1). I am currently in the beginning stages of planning a missions trip to Mexico with one of my friends and small group leaders, Aaron Carnahan. Having spent a portion of my life on the mission field, I've seen the incredible impact God can have on people when they are taken out of their 'orb' of life and reminded what life is really about. SO, with that being said, God had really put it on my heart to take that experience and share it with people the best way I know how.. by leading a team to Mexico to experience first-hand what an impact God wants to have on people. Please pray that first and foremost, God will direct each step taken in this process and open or potentially close any doors He sees fit in these planning stages. Also, that people would prayerfully consider committing to this project and investing time and potentially finances to the advancement of our trip.
2). This past week I was introduced to an idea of one of my friends and sister-in-Christ for a local youth/college age worship gathering. The idea is to bring God's church together for a time of nothing but worship, teaching, and fellowship. It would not be hosted or sponsored by any one church, but rather be a place where denomination is irrelevant. People could simply see their brothers and sisters in Christ as ONE body working together for the ONE purpose, praising His name and reaching the lost. It would be heavily encouraged that people bring their 'lost' friends and catch a glimpse of something so much bigger than what their living for. Please pray that God will raise up people to lead and direct this potential ministry and for musicians, speakers, a location, etc. to all be a part of making this thing work. Pray for God's direction and moving in people's heart, but above all that God will do ALL the planning and directing, not us.
3). Within the past week, two of my friend's grandma's have passed away. I know death is a part of life, but it is always hard losing a loved one. Please pray for the familys of Matt Knobloch and Emily Moser as they rejoice in knowing there grandmas are finally home, but also comfort those who are dealing with the loss.
Those are just a couple of things on my heart today and the last few days.. I appreciate your prayers and look forward to sharing how God has worked in each of these ways at a later time..
love y'all - ryan
Monday, February 4, 2008
Jetman: more than just an addiction, its life.
Weather Forecast for this post: Semi-Serious to Serious, with a 70% chance of humorous detail
Giving credit where credit is due.. Greg Reich, thank you for the topic suggestion.
I'm sure most of my readers (and by readers, i mean the 5 of you) are most likely connected in the world 'o Facebook. And as we all know, there is a little game on FB called 'Jetman.' Now, in case a new reader, unfamiliar with this internet addiction, is reading the blog, let me explain..(there are alot of commas in that last sentence) JETMAN: you control a little man, or a variety of other characters, up and down and clicking your mouse to propel him up, and release the mouse to make him fall. You fly in a cavern of sorts over or under a continuous series of blockades. The farther you can go, the more points you get. If you hit a blockade, a small explosion occurs and you die and must start over. You can challenge your friends to a 'duel' where one person starts, and the other has the beat that score.
Now, as greg had pointed out to me earlier, I believe this game can be loosely interpreted as a view of life, especially our spiritual lives. We coast along somewhere between these two worlds of heaven and hell and try to do the best we can. We attempt to dodge or refrain from as many obstacles as possible.. but often these blockades are hard to miss. Sometimes these obstacles/temptations even become attractive looking... in the game, you sometimes get as close as possible to these blockades to best setup for the next one. In life, sometimes, even though we know they are out to destroy us, these hindrances have a way of becoming desirable. We often try to get as close as possible without getting hurt.. often seeing just how close we can get, and experiencing the thrill of escape. But its not always the case... often we find that getting too close causes us to 'crash' into these temptations. We give in and what happens...we got burned. Guilt, shame, frustration, etc fill our minds and often feel as though we lose the progress we've made. We are forced to start again.. I think we often forget that by ourselves, we couldn't even play this game. It is only because of the jetpack strapped to our backs that makes it even possible. Same with our spiritual lives, they aren't even possible on our own. We are being carried and sustained by something completely separate.. Jesus Christ. He is the only reason we are in this spot anyways. Because of his 'crazy-mouse-clicking skills', we are able to avoid every blockade in life.. we have the potential to 'play this game' until the end..no starting over, no crashing, no burning, none of that.. He has every ability to sustain us to the end. Now, sadly because of our human nature, never having these incidents isn't possible. But it should be our mindset.. and our goal in life. Let God control the jetpack, quit thinking you can play the game without it...its not possible. PERIOD. Let God, and you'll have a high score to brag about :)
just random thoughts from a random guy.. love -ryan
Giving credit where credit is due.. Greg Reich, thank you for the topic suggestion.
I'm sure most of my readers (and by readers, i mean the 5 of you) are most likely connected in the world 'o Facebook. And as we all know, there is a little game on FB called 'Jetman.' Now, in case a new reader, unfamiliar with this internet addiction, is reading the blog, let me explain..(there are alot of commas in that last sentence) JETMAN: you control a little man, or a variety of other characters, up and down and clicking your mouse to propel him up, and release the mouse to make him fall. You fly in a cavern of sorts over or under a continuous series of blockades. The farther you can go, the more points you get. If you hit a blockade, a small explosion occurs and you die and must start over. You can challenge your friends to a 'duel' where one person starts, and the other has the beat that score.
Now, as greg had pointed out to me earlier, I believe this game can be loosely interpreted as a view of life, especially our spiritual lives. We coast along somewhere between these two worlds of heaven and hell and try to do the best we can. We attempt to dodge or refrain from as many obstacles as possible.. but often these blockades are hard to miss. Sometimes these obstacles/temptations even become attractive looking... in the game, you sometimes get as close as possible to these blockades to best setup for the next one. In life, sometimes, even though we know they are out to destroy us, these hindrances have a way of becoming desirable. We often try to get as close as possible without getting hurt.. often seeing just how close we can get, and experiencing the thrill of escape. But its not always the case... often we find that getting too close causes us to 'crash' into these temptations. We give in and what happens...we got burned. Guilt, shame, frustration, etc fill our minds and often feel as though we lose the progress we've made. We are forced to start again.. I think we often forget that by ourselves, we couldn't even play this game. It is only because of the jetpack strapped to our backs that makes it even possible. Same with our spiritual lives, they aren't even possible on our own. We are being carried and sustained by something completely separate.. Jesus Christ. He is the only reason we are in this spot anyways. Because of his 'crazy-mouse-clicking skills', we are able to avoid every blockade in life.. we have the potential to 'play this game' until the end..no starting over, no crashing, no burning, none of that.. He has every ability to sustain us to the end. Now, sadly because of our human nature, never having these incidents isn't possible. But it should be our mindset.. and our goal in life. Let God control the jetpack, quit thinking you can play the game without it...its not possible. PERIOD. Let God, and you'll have a high score to brag about :)
just random thoughts from a random guy.. love -ryan
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