Where's common courtesy gone?

As of late, I have noticed something appalling in the way people treat one another. More specific to the situation, I work in a service-based business. Sadly, the resounding situation that has continued to occur has been frequent people who don't agree with the final decision made upon their request and near belligerent attitudes toward me personally. To go even further, these people go to the extent of marching themselves above my authority to tell my boss they should get preferential treatment and my decision doesn't mean 'squat.' If it doesn't happen that way, they choose to threaten to take their business elsewhere until they get their way in treating me like dirt.

Where I am going is this - where has the common courtesy between human beings gone? I don't see any respect for one another at all when it comes to interaction between people. Personally I feel that people have shifted to this some kind of 'expected' mentality that it's their way or the highway and they'll do whatever necessary to win their point over.

Since we are headed into the biggest 'gimmick' season of shopping and whatever else you can think that has ruined the reason for Christmas, we are upon something I never imagined before. It truly bothers me to think how the human race has basically become a 'stick it to the person next to you no matter the cost' type of people. If we think hard enough, what kind of leaders in our history felt this way and treated humans this way? I will remain silent in this matter but I think most people will see what my point is here.

People are not doormats and should never be treated that way. If we all chose to be a bit more patient and kind, I think we all would see a huge generational shift in how things happen in our world. Christ never treated people like this. He never told someone to their face that their decision was so wrong that He'd insult you basically to the person above you. It is simply saddening to know this is the route our world has gone. This has happened to me where I have had a choice in making something right after I chose to react poorly. Instead of sitting on my high point and thinking my position was right, I humbled myself to tell that person I messed up. Specifically, it all falls to the importance of God's Truth in 1 Corinthians 13 about the traits of love and how we really should treat one another.

That's where I remain. My prayer for society is to bring more humility, patience, kindness, common courtesy to one another. This could change so much in our overall attitudes and the way it can windfall to our daily action. If this has hit you in any way or made you feel offended, deeply I am sorry it has - but it has for a reason and God is convicting you of change. He has of me already in writing these thoughts on my own heart in how I interact with others on a daily basis.

American Dream.....or Nightmare?

Over the last few months, God has motivated me personally to do a self-assessment on my priorities and everything in my life. Being that He has called me into the amazing world of military youth ministry and specifically the mission field, it has prompted me to look at what is truly necessary in my life.

In reviewing things that are in my life, I have come to understand I have too much crap. I have closets full of clothing, one large dresser full and one small nightstand full of clothes. Too much crap! I have a house full of stuff and I am never there! Dear Lord, this is too much for one single guy to have. God has opened my heart to give stuff to others who can use what I don't. I don't need 50 t-shirts, 50 pair of shoes, 50 types of dress shirts and so on. But sadly I DO. Why??? Because I was caught up in the "American Dream" of living like everyone else. I have a mortgage, a car, a lawn mower, a fertilizer spreader, an elliptical machine, a living room full of furniture, a really nice dining room set, and on and on. Why??? Living the supposed "American Dream."

It isn't enough that I own these things, I have learned that I have to maintain them too. What a joke. Now the things I own, really own me and my time. Change the oil in the car, lawn mower, mow the lawn, shovel the driveway, vacuum the carpet, paint the house, fertilize the yard, iron my dress shirts, do the laundry of all the clothing I own, and on and on. My collection of crap OWNS ME.

I've learned something. The American Dream is a gimmick. Period. If you disagree, then it hasn't hit you yet. Luckily God has blessed me to be a frugal person to financially not incur any debt other than my home loan, but I still feel straddled with this debt. What exactly are we working so hard for anyhow? To be laden with the typical mortgage, family, everything else that comes along with it to include all of the crap of collecting too? Is it worth it? Is it really something most people care to do in paying on a home loan for THIRTY YEARS? That is just insane. Over that period of time, most people will pay almost 3 TIMES the cost of their home, no matter the rate they think was such a 'good deal.'

I do believe that purchases with good choices behind them are alright. Having a home or place to live is a good thing, but it isn't a requirement to own a home. Having a car is a nice thing but it doesn't have to be the biggest or newest and nicest one around. Just needs to get you from point A to point B, right? I know people who always go out and get the best and newest of everything just to be yet again disappointed with how things ended in filling that immediate 'need.' Ever wonder why that need wasn't filled so well? Could it be you might be missing Jesus in that void?

It's also interesting to go to yard sales I think. We find all of the 'crap' people went out and wasted their hard earned money on throughout time where it goes for pennies on the dollar. Wouldn't it be easier if we spent our money on something more worthwhile, such as building up God's Kingdom? That could be in many ways and not just in the physical church setting too. Potentially support a Christ-focused local food pantry, youth ministry, church, missionary, Christian radio station......anything at all.

What I am getting at here is that the American Dream is not really the 'dream' everyone has when they get into it. We can make good choices not to follow the curve and live wholesome lives which God can be pleased. The next time you are out and are considering spending money, I ask you and I will do the same......do you really need another ______? May God bless you in your personal walk with Jesus because He continues to rock my world.

Intentional, or not?

Life takes courage, period. Too many times I have been around people in life where I pass them by either at work, in the community or even at church and we exchange the cordial "what's up" or even "how have you been?" I'm in a different place in my life now with Christ taking hold so much that it kills me to hear those passive comments going on around me. I now am a man of intentionality. My reason behind this posting dwells back to where I got the chance to really engage with a fellow brother in Christ, John. He's my absolute champion in my faith in Jesus and where I have developed a life in following our Lord. He is also my real accountability partner in life, no matter when I fall or have a victory in daily activity. John is courageous in his intentionality with me. He steps outside of his comfort to give me his all when I need it. In time, I have learned to to the same so much that I feel so changed by the way I interact with others now. No longer I say the typical 'what's up' or 'how are you' without really caring behind the comment when asking someone else. God has changed me and my outlook on interacting with people. I want to know people and hear from them because that's what Christ did when He was here. He knew people. It took courage to be intentional while Christ got to know others. It was messy. LIFE IS MESSY. However, we humans want to be heard in our struggles and victories of life. My challenge to those reading this blog post is not to see where I have come from but to see the key point of being intentional will come from a courage Christ will give you. I don't know how it will happen for other people because that's in God's plans, not mine or yours. I do champion you to take that next step though to really know people around you. Be intentional. Have that courage Christ is calling all of us to have to really understand people we are around. Christ was the perfect and best example we could have in how He reached the least of our existence to LOVE them and show them He cared about them. Therefore, when you are crossing paths with someone you do or don't know, how intentional will you be in your conversation?

Obedience....walking in God's shadows.

Breakthrough. Change. Humility. Passion. Willpower. Sacrifice. Obedience.

In the past few days, God has reached the depths of my soul more than I ever imagined. I had an incredible opportunity to be a man of strength to the youth around me in the ministry I volunteer as well as the other men adults who were alongside me in the journey during a recent purity retreat. God showed up. He not only showed up for those youth around us but He talked to ME. While we had an opportunity to do something bigger than ever, I chose to nail something that was my past to the cross which had been assembled moments into the afternoon. On the notecard were the words "my divorce." I knew this was going to be a moving opportunity because I do feel it defines who I am and what I have been through as a man of Christ, but I had no idea what it was going to hold when the leader chose to pull them off later in the day and burn them. I stood there watching him pull them from the cross and tossing them into the fire, watching them burn, knowing that redemption was God's reason for The Cross. Jesus paid it for me, for those youth, for our pasts, our faults, our shortcomings. I hadn't sobbed like this in a long time and God knew it. He was building for what was yet to come.

Sunday was a great day. I had the chance to see people after God's miracles came through during the retreat and share with them how powerful everything had been for the youth and the adults alike. God showed up. Again. In visiting with one of my great friends who is a pastor at our church, God spoke through him. I was asked how my 'phone call' went that week. I admitted I was waiting on the ample time to make that call. It was a sad excuse. Then I got the wonderful chance to share where God had been leading my life lately in His vision for me to go full-time into youth ministry mission work. He showed up again. At least 4 people chose to come visit with me and connect with me in one way or another in the ministry and help support me. On the way home from church, I had planned on washing the car, running on the elliptical and relaxing before a friends' child's birthday party. After that party, I got home and felt God telling me something I'll never forget. He said "this weekend I've been with you more than ever before, why are you holding back to make that phone call I am waiting on.....I am stronger here for you now more than you know." I knew it was time. I sent text messages to my prayer warrior team and started sobbing incredibly knowing that I had to do what God was calling me to do in obedience - not my will. I have never felt my heart throb and pound like this in who knows how long. God provided courage, comfort and prayer through my warrior team. I made that call He wanted me to make.

Now I know where God stands in my life. Obedient calling isn't just a 'feeling,' it's life. I am so thankful for the wonderful people I have in my life who I can depend upon and who want to see me succeed in God's vision for my life. Father, I deeply love who you are making me out to be - a man walking with YOU by my side.