Monsterlizard - Born Again

I have decided to learn each book of the Bible one at a time.  I have been reading various ideas on how to study the Bible, and this seems to make the most sense to me.  I think I will start with the New Testament, so I can understand the new Covenant before learning what the old Covenant was.

Now, my problem is decding what order to take the books in.  I found a nice graphic that explains the timeline the Gospels were writen in and the timeline they write about.  I think I will use this as my guide for the order to study in.

Growing up, my family was wealthy both spiritually and physically.  My dad was a self made man and a devout Catholic.  He had built a fortune in the early 80’s in real estate.  I believe he peeked in the early 80s (81-84). 

For some background, I Googled “Prime Rate Historical Data” and found that the average prime interest rate for the 80’s was about 15% with a high of 21.50% in December 1980.  Also, the unemployment rate in the 80s averaged about 8%, and steady at about 10% from 81 to 83.  For comparison purposes, the prime rate today is 8.25% and the unemployment rate as of January is 4.6%.

On the business front my dad taught me, “by low sell low” and “Don’t be afraid to sell in the bad times”.  He sold houses, mostly lower income houses far east of town where housing options weren’t that plentiful.  He bought property low because of the economic times, and in turn sold low to people who couldn’t afford much.  While most people were scraping buy and not investing due to the economy, my family was taking trips to Europe.

Call it coincidence that my dad’s name is James, but I found a passage in the book of James paralleling the teachings of my dad Jim.

“My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Bad times are good times because we know how to handle them.  We know they bring us closer to the LORD.  If all our times were good, what would the point of living be.  If all times were good, we wouldn’t need to be charitable.  If all times were good, no one would have the opportunity to help us. 

“in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Emphasis added by me

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

I called my brother last night for no other reason than that Heather has been telling me for a couple days that I need to call him.  I had been putting it off because I got busy with this or that, but yesterday I picked up the phone.  He has never seemed so genuinely happy to hear from me.  We had a great talk about nothing in particular, and my cell phone died.  I had told him it was about to, so he wouldn’t be surprised when we got cut off.

After the phone went dead, I walked into my bed room to plug it in.  Once it came back on, it notified me that I had a voicemail.  It seemed strange because I was sure all my family had called to wish me a happy birthday already.  And Jason knew that my phone was dying so he surely wouldn’t call back.

The message was short, and a little quite, but it is ringing in my ears even today.  I can’t remember ever hearing those 3 words from him before.

My brother and I have been through a lot.  We went separate ways for a while.  He went through (is going through) his own trials, and there was a point I couldn’t bare to watch anymore.  I thought he was forever lost, but we have begun to rebuild our relationship.

Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever” (John 8:34-35).

My brother is my brother forever, and I love him.

30 today!  Gone are my 20s, and what I have always considered youth. 

I just Googled and found that I share the same day with James Van Der Beek (Dawson from Dawson’s Creek).  Makes me almost wish I had watched that show…but not really

Anyway, happy birthday to me and Dawson.

I laid in bed reading “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren tonight like I have been for several nights, and something struck me.  The part I was reading about was cultivating community, however my mind wondered on another track early into the chapter.

 There was a passage from 1 Corinthians 5:3-12 (msg).  The line that took me back was, “I’m not responsible for what outsiders do, but don’t we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers?”.  Now, this was to show that we as followers of Christ need to be diligent in holding ourselves to the standards God has set out for us.  I however found something else in it, (verse 12) “…I’m not responsible for what outsiders do…”.  I believe what Paul is saying is that we should not be wasting our time trying to hold non-believers to God’s laws.  Instead we should use that energy within our body of believers.  He closes with, (verse 13) “God decides on the outsiders…”. 

Aside from the obvious message from Paul about confronting problems in the Church, I think he is telling another message.  Don’t judge non-believers, God will do that in His time.  So, next time I get upset about some insignificant person or group attempting to remove His laws from our government, I am going to be humbled by verses 12 and 13 because those laws weren’t for them anyway.

Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4

The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

These are 2 verses I was drawn to this morning.  I Googled daily devotionals when I got to work to start my day, and this is what the Holy Spirit let me to. Upper Room - Daily Devotional  I am amazed at how clear the Bible is in explaining what we are here to do.  I am sure I am on the correct path now, but I am still unsure where it will lead me.  I just pray to have the dedication that Abraham in Genesis 12:1 had, and can walk the path before me without question.

I have recently recommitted myself to Christ (within the last 6 months).  I am so filled with the Holy Spirit that I am having a hard time concentrating on much else.  It is such a wonderful feeling.

I had been walking in darkness for most all of my adult life.  I was so empty, but always looking to fill that void.  This is something Heather could see, but I could not.  I owe her a great deal for leading me to light.  It really took a massive failure in my life to open my eyes.  I can only imaging the anguish she must have endured as years of ministering to me dragged on.  I would hear her, but I would not listen. 

I was/am an ambitious person.  I have always know that I was put here to do great things.  My problem was that I thought I was in charge of deciding what those Great things would be.  I have tried many things and failed, but I always got right back up and tried something else.  However, last year the Lord made me hit hard.  A fall I thank Him for every day…now.  During that fall, I cursed Him.  However (I believe by no coincidence of the number) 3 people/things/events were placed in my path to show me the way.  3 burning tapers summond by the will of my wonderful wife.

As I now walk with God every day, I am dumbstruck by how lost I was.  I was so lost, I couldn’t recognize I was lost.  In the coming days, week, months, years… I look so forward to discovering what God has in store for me.

So, monsterlizard.com has been dormant for a while.  I had great plans for what I wanted to do with it, but priorities in my life have changed.  I’ll try to keep the world updated as we go.