"Job Training"

 This is from Oswald Chambers "The Case For Refuge", a study on Job. "When a man gets convicted of sin [which is the most direct way of knowing there is a problem at the basis of life], he knows that he cannot carry the burden of it; he also knows that God dare not forgive him; if He did, it would mean that man's sense of justice is bigger than God's. If I am forgiven without being altered, forgiveness is not only damaging to me, but a sign of unmitigated weakness  to establish an order of holiness and rectitude, forgiveness is a mean [ordinary, common, low or ignoble] and abominable thing."

This shatters many a creed held nowadays in our entitlement minded society; If I do this, God will do this. Theology and creed are essential to develop, but secondary to a relationship with God. Job clings to God because he knows God is honorable and just despite his circumstances and his creed, and he knows God's purpose, even if it's in the hereafter, will be realized. It is in the place of sorrow and total exhaustion, when there seems to be no way out, that we turn to God for our refuge. This is when the whole point of redemption comes to life. Forgiveness as a bartering chip is destroyed when we abandon ourselves and fling our trust solely on God. This is truly, when God is praised and lifted up in our lives. This is when the reality of life births the relationship we need and God desires. 

 Just one of my many thought's on "Job Training." 

Childhood Perpetuity

 

     Raising a child is a daunting task and always has been. Still, there should be a graduation process ..... shouldn't there? My own dear mother has gone to be with the Lord and I'm sure she has had her inquiries with Him concerning this very subject. When does it end? That's not a question that she's alone in asking. I believe with all my heart my wife is asking the same question and to be openly transparent we're not talking about our kids. It's probably become apparent to many of our friends, that this is the inheritance of sorts, my mom passed on to my beloved. I really try, kinda, to be a good boy! In truth, some of the blame for this state of perpetual childishness rests with my brothers [Myron and Bruce] while at the same time served as a conditioning environment for my sister [Sandy] in her preparation for motherhood. Still, I wonder if my wife's propensity for the raising and care of animals might also play into this. 

     I once told my mother that I wanted to be a musician when I grew up. Her reply was that I couldn't have it both ways. This I thought could be a definitive explanation as to why I may be caught in this state of perpetual childhood. After all, when have you ever seen a grown-up musician? Still, here I reside in this state of flux, wrestling with this quagmire of relentless query. Perhaps, I shall make of this a supposition that my dear wife needs me to be this way to fend off any underlying feelings of motherly deprivations. 

     Yes, this must be the answer. I'm the true hero of my own making. I'm fulfilling my lovely wife's underlying and consuming need to relevancy and purpose.  I, or we should pay homage to this never- ending sacrifice of motherhood, and maybe even set aside a day for celebration. Yes, my wife portrays the elaborate picture of motherhood and I will ever play my role in this quest of perpetual childhood for her sake. 

     As always, your everlasting source of childishness, and your ever- sacrificing husband.    Love Gordon 

       

 

Too Have Been or Not to Have Been

     For the most part, at my age, a person most often finds themselves looking back. Conversations with friends also, oftentimes, revolve around the "good old days." The future seems to be relegated to day by day drudging duty. The well seems to have gotten deeper and the rope to the bucket is frayed and occasioned with the knots of life's disappointments. I'm tired and sometimes the punching bag of life seems so unscathed by any blow I may throw at it that I find I'm just hanging in there waiting for the bell to ring. Then, I find myself wondering how many more rounds are left, and can or will I step into the ring one more time. How many people like myself are asking themselves the same questions? My recliner calls to me daily as if I had earned the right to claim it as my throne. Purpose taunts me daily as soon as the day breaks. The game begins. Catch me if you can! Finding the finish line is like playing hide and seek.

     Pathetic, that's pretty much what that first paragraph is descriptive of. Still, that's the trap, or the place where many of us reside. It may be easier to grab a beer or to claim our right to the aforementioned throne, live in the past clinging to the good ole days, or get up and take another shot at the punching bag. The question I have pursued, and I believed rightly so, is where to throw that punch. We should at the very least, be able to agree that the punch should be thrown. For me, I believe God created me for a purpose, so finding my definitive place in the scheme of things, here in this life, is my first objective. If you're not a Christian, my supposition here may appear baseless and somewhat meaningless. Your stance may be more subjective in nature and conclude that there is nothing more than to live through the lens of collective good or simply your own good. My faith is not subjective, so obviously our objectives will differ. My wrestling match with life will differ vastly from yours. I refer back to my God- created purpose.

     My purpose must align with God's. My life now must define my life for eternity. Yes, there are many battle lines. We can find ourselves encompassed about on many fronts. We may find our perspective being challenged daily, but this only can be conquered by a response. This may sound like a slick ploy to avoid a definitive answer to our original plight of meaningless existence. It's not! God, in His mercy, with all His power and glory and wisdom, wants a response. It, the response, greets us daily, as soon as we rise in the morning. I'm not saying He necessarily delineates a strict avenue of response, but that He gives us the armor and weapons for a response at any given moment or need. Seek and ye shall find. Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, not yours!

     I love my old friends and look back sometimes with fondness, sometimes with bewilderment, sometimes with regret. That's life, then and now. I can only live with now, today period. I'll rise to shine or not. The life we live is freely given by God with no strings attached, but still demands a response. Right now, I'm going to get out of my recliner and find something to do and be thankful to the Lord of my life for His never ending opportunities to respond. After all, in the beginning of this journey the question was to be or not to be, at the end, to have been or not to have been. 

2nd Timothy 4:7-8  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that Love His appearing.