stop the auto-formatting

I cannot stand the auto-format function in Microsoft Word. I know that they created it with the intention of helping all of us compose better letters and create better presentation documents. It is supposed to anticipate what we "actually" want before we type it. It often seems to jump to conclusions with only a fraction of the information. I can type two lines and from that point forward my document is determined for me by the software. And undoing the auto-format can be as much of a pain as trying to utilize it.

So often in life, I believe that we jump into auto-format mode with God's plans. He starts one thing, and we often jump to the idea of "we know where He's going with this," and usually too soon. Our impatience sometimes pushes us to figure out what God is "really" trying to do, when He has only given us a fraction of the plan. Let me implore you, stop the auto-formatting. Don't make it more difficult for God to undo that which we did, jumping to a conclusion too soon. Let God compose your life with His beautiful style and flare and see what it becomes.

Grace & peace to you.
Tony

may you experience the JOY of being WINLESS!

When I was in elementary school, I played little league. One year I was on the Braves! Our team colors were purple and I had two friends from school (twins in fact) who were on my team. Their dad was our coach and I was so excited about what promise the season held for us. As we finished our first game, with a loss, I still had fun playing with my friends in an "official" game. Next week's game arrived and departed without adding a point to our win column. Week three, another loss. Week four, five, and all but the last game, losses! We were winless. We couldn't win a game if our lives depended on it. Finally, the last week of games was upon us and we were playing the number one team in our division. They were undefeated. There was little hope of us squeaking out a win before we received our compulsory trophies. But the moon and stars were aligned, someone must have kissed the blarney stone for us, and God had mercy on the Braves. We won. We actually beat the undefeated team for our only win. We were so excited. But the amazing thing was, we didn't need that win to experience joy. Of course we loved ending the season beating the team that no one else could, but we just loved playing the game together (kinda like the Bad News Bears). The joy was in the playing. Now that's a novel thought. We need to remember that joy doesn't come from being victorious in our endeavors, but rather in the endeavors themselves. Getting there is really half the fun (actually more than half)!

NOTE: if you attend the RISING, this is similar to the preview that will appear on the RISING blog tomorrow. But go ahead and listen to it too, just because I took the time to make it. Or at least I'm going to. I'll try to give it a little something extra to make it more fun.

Tony

Are You Ready?

Tomorrow is the first day of 2008, are you ready? It begins a new year that will be filled with new opportunities, are you ready? This year will bring some disappointments that you will have to overcome, are you ready? This could be the most difficult year of your life, or perhaps your best year ever, are you ready?

God is looking at this next year, and He wants to be a part of it. He sees what's coming around the corner, He knows what your spring is going to be like, He knows when the hurts will come and how excited you'll be when the blessings hit. And He longs to be a part of it all!

We have to position ourselves to receive God's blessing. We have to put forth effort and allow God to use that effort to open up new doors. The only effort God can't bless is the one you won't make! We have to position ourselves to withstand storms. We have to prepare for them and establish a foundation that cannot be moved. We need to be linked up with God for 2008. We Need Him!

So again I ask, are you ready?

Happy Holidays Eve!

Sounds kinda dumb doesn't it. When I was a kid, everyone wished each other a Merry Christmas, just like the song says. Sometimes you'd hear "happy holidays" or "season's greetings" and they were not at all offensive. But I've found something different in today's society. As I went shopping a few days ago, not one store employee would wish me a Merry Christmas until I had said it first. They were all afraid of offending me, so they gave the generic "happy holidays" which actually is was offended me more. Why can't we speak what we believe without offending others? If I ran into a Jewish person who initially wishes me a happy Hanukkah, I have no reason to be offended. Just because I don't celebrate Hanukkah doesn't mean that I should be offended by kind words from someone who does. Shouldn't we all be allowed to bless one another according to our own beliefs and just accept the kindness?

So...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

I WAS TOO BUSY YESTERDAY TO WRITE...

my blog. We'll that's what I want to say so that you don't think I'm neglecting my commitment to write one every Monday. And if I go with that story, "I was too busy," then maybe you'll think that I'm just that important. Maybe you'll think that I'm so important that I have a day full of appointments and tasks that just have to be kept. 'Cause, if I'm busy, then I'm important. And the busier I am, the less available I am, then I must be that much more important. I mean, important people don't have time to just drop everything and get together with someone on the spur of the moment. Important people barely have time for others, right?

That's what our society tells us. That's what we are lead to believe. How busy you are is directly proportional to how important you are. Busy = important. Then, many of us interpret the opposite to be true that not busy, available = lazy or not important. Let me give you some truth that will hopefully set you free. Your schedule has nothing to do with how important you are. Your appointments don't determine your value. You are valued by God. You are worth His Son. Jesus didn't die for your schedule, but for you, and for those who know you and need you. Being available is exactly what Jesus was, and it is what we need to be. Clear out your schedule so that you have room to be available to others. Jesus didn't tell paralyzed man that he didn't have time to heal Him because He was preaching. Jesus didn't turn away the widow who's son just died, because he was on His way to His next appointment. And thank God He didn't turn down the cross because His weekend was too full.

MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE.

I WANNA SEE THE STOREHOUSES...

Earlier today I was reading Job. The last few chapters are amazing. To hear God respond to Job with authority, with power, and with a bit of sarcasm, now that I can get on board with. In chapters 38-41, God's answer is awesome. I love the idea that he has a place where light lives and a place where darkness resides. To think of storehouse filled with snow, hail, or of places from where lightning or wind is dispersed. I know it's not literal, but is actually one of the most poetic sections of scripture. If you haven't read it recently, do so. Even without reading Job's complaint you will catch a glimpse of God's glory, and you'll most likely be a little humbled. Till next week...
Tony

BE WHERE YOU BELONG

Have you ever felt out of place? Like a new student in the middle of a semester who moved to a new school? Maybe at a party, where no one even knew you? Possibly at your own job? There are indeed places in our lives where we don't belong; places where we don't fit it. Yet all of us long for that feeling that we are in the right place, where we are supposed to be.

I just read the passage in Luke 2 when Jesus was found by his parents to be in the temple as a boy. After searching for him for quite a while, the discovered that he was with the religious leaders, in the temple. When questioned by Mary & Joseph about why he didn't stick with them, his response was simple. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Or you could phrase it, "Didn't you know, this is where I belong?" Jesus knew that he belonged in God's house, with God's people. And I want to tell you, THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG! God has designed us to need each other. We help each other through life. We celebrate with one another. We cry together. We teach each other and most of all, we love each other. That's what the church is for. That's why God gave us The Church. You may have a hard time finding a church in which you are comfortable. Sometimes, that's understandable, but sometimes it's just you being too picky. Find a church. Go to the temple. Connect with God's people.