OCTOBER CHALLENGE Update

As we continue our challenge to read scripture in the morning and before we retire for the night, I find myself anticipating the next encounter with this strange book. Each chapter I read has some insight into life, and sometimes it holds hidden truths that are not realized for days. Yet, no matter how often I read, there is always one more chapter, one more line, one more…

I have found it rather difficult to stop reading certain days. There is such a draw into the stories and accounts I am reading that I want to jump into the book and be there myself. Just as I do with novels, I find myself immersed in the culture, time of day, life situations, of all that is going on in whatever I am reading—and it is incredible.

I am learning about myself and how to interact with others. I am learning about God’s timing and how we play a role in what He accomplishes. I am learning that change doesn’t mean “fix it this way.” And I am learning that my God, my God, is so powerful that all he said (HE SAID mind you) was “let there be light,” and the sunrise was born with all its majesty and brilliance and perfect timing.

A friend asked me, last evening, what the next step would be for “Bill” to stop drinking alcohol. The only answer I could think of was that when “Bill” is ready to stop drinking and embrace Christ, there will be drastic changes in “Bill’s” life: this could include giving all money to “Bill’s” wife, staying away from any place where he has easy access to alcohol, turning to scripture to occupy his mind, etc… And what is still with me today is that “Bill” has no idea what kind of changes will take place if he were to sit down and read a chapter or two of the Bible each day.

I understand the argument “we shouldn't be so radically different that it turns people away from Christ,” but how do you explain JESUS telling those who did follow Him “some of you will say to me, ‘Lord we did follow you and do all these things in your name.’ But you will be sent to hell because you followed me with a lukewarm attitude.” (Matthew 7) God demands all or nothing. So why not try this “all or nothing” with a little bit of scripture reading.

You don’t need to proclaim to the world or even your friends that you are spending extra time each day reading scripture. You don’t even need to tell your family. But you do need to start. Everything else will come later, so don’t worry about the later stuff.

I hope that you are still reading in the morning and evening, or at least once a day. You can argue that you don’t have time, but I work two jobs and can still make time to read two chapters a day.

Philippians 4:8

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

October Challenge!

October Challenge

July 17 was a very special day for me but not nearly as amazing as the following weeks. The weeks following that afternoon we filled with love, joy, new found wisdom, and satisfaction. No, I did not get a dog. No, I did not find Mrs. Right. No, I did not move out of my parents' house--although that might just fill me with joy and satisfaction. 

I got into the Word.

The time commitment I was asked to partake of was rather large, considering I am severely limited in the area of self-discipline. I was asked to read at least one chapter of the Bible in the morning, before I left for work, and one chapter in Psalm before falling asleep each night. It did mess up my normal routine, by which I mean I did whatever whenever because I had no “normal” work hours. However, the payoff has been incredible.

The payoff was enormous.

I felt close to God. I continued to find a nugget of truth every day. I was so focused upon God’s word that I have lost a lot of the desires for other things—TV, radio, surfing the internet, buying new things, etc… Now don’t think that I have no interest in those things any longer, because I do. The desire is much less strong now. I have a new focus.

I invite you to join me and my church as we embark on the October Challenge! For the entire month, spend time reading at least one chapter in the Bible each morning and one chapter of Psalm each night. A relative of mine once said something to the affect of “God’s word should be the key to unlock your day in the morning and the deadbolt to lock you up at night.” That is the idea: immerse yourself in God’s word and you will find a different life altogether.

Warning: This will mess up your “normal” routine. This might mean you should practice more self-control and go to bed 10 minutes earlier. You will probably need to awake 5-10 minutes earlier than usual for time to read in the morning.

I hope you will join me. I have been doing this for almost 3 months now, and God has yet to let a day go by without showing me something—even a reminder. If you need a good place to start, try Galatians, Philippians, James, Jeremiah, 1-3 John, Daniel, Ruth, or even Genesis (although this might take more than 1 month).  And don’t forget about reading a Psalm each night before bed.

Suggestion 1 … tag a few friends so that they know about this too, and then talk about what you are reading with each other.

Suggestion 2 … read the Psalm together with your family. What a great way to introduce spending time with God with your family!

Suggestion 3 … get some friends who don’t live near you to get involved. Jesus said “go to the ends of the Earth,” so why not?

Join the October Challenge!

Incredible

I recently had my family Doctor cut glass out of my right, big toe. The shot was much worse than any other pain felt even during recovery. Through the past few days of hobbling around the house and church, I have marveled at God’s creation.

I have known that toes are incredibly important to us for years. There is no possible way to replicate the foot’s ability to balance, so if you are trying to create a sculpture you must either cement the statues feet to the ground or create a third “foot.”

It’s amazing that God created us such intricate beings! NO! We are not delicate, although that word might capture part of the concept here. We are intricate. At least males are intricate. If you are female, feel free to be delicate.

God wrote to us in the Corinthians that we are part of a bigger body and each part of the body deserves special respect. In applying this to my physical body, I began to see how amazing I am! Yes, you are in the presence of an incredible human being! No, no, no. I have been created an amazing human, just like you.

Do you have any idea what the longest/biggest organ in your body is?

The inside of your blood vessels.

Did you know your heart can pump blood 15 feet into the air?

I was created by God as an intricate, incredible person. My body functions as it should most days.

But we do so much to destroy these incredible, intricate, amazing bodies!

We gossip—talk about people when it’s none of our business. We slander—talk negatively about another person. We smoke, drink alcohol, view pornography, over eat, don’t get enough sleep, “love” things that aren’t good for us… And it all works to destroy our bodies. Everything that does not draw us closer to God slowly wreaks havoc on our bodies.

Be careful.

Enjoy your life.

Find pleasure in the gift of God: your body.

Take care of it.

And make sure to tell someone that you are an amazing person!