Justified

Honest question...how many times have we used something someone else has done to justify our own bad choices? For example, a husband leaves his wife for another woman and blames it on his wife because he wasn't her priority. I went through that, and I've done it myself. We've all done it, but what does it really do to our lives? I believe that using that type of false justification only enables us to feel better about decisions we know we shouldn't make. I also believe that by justifying bad choices on other people's mistakes, we enable ourselves to avoid dealing with issues that need to be dealt with in order for us not to carry baggage. Thats why I don't believe its right for a wife to leave a husband because he got hooked on porn, or a friend to turn their back on another friend because they hurt them. In the end, the actual problems don't get solved and we carry them forward as baggage in our lives. We basically poison our futures. We base decisions on the baggage we carry. The truth is justifying a sin with another sin only leads to more pain and more suffering on all parts. If we face our problems, and handle them in a Christ-like manner, then we are justified in truth....God's truth.

Final

Its been awhile since I've written. The truth is that I really haven't known what to say. I knew my days as a married man were coming to a close soon and I didn't know how to express it. Today was our final court date. I'm now a single man. I'm still digesting all of this, but I just want to thank people like my friends Micah and Gary, and relatives from Val's side of the family, John and Jane. I appreciate their Christian mentorship.

I'm not sure what is going to happen from this day forth. I'm hurting alot but I guess it'll get easier. Ten years of your life is a long time to leave behind, but I have to if I'm ever going to be what God wants me to be.

Day Planner

I had an appointment to meet with a friend of mine whom I happen to respect a great deal last Thursday for coffee. We'd set that date almost two weeks before and I was excited. I also knew that due to my now suspect short-term memory I had stood him up last time we were supposed to meet. I'd like to use the excuse that it was the length of time from when we made the appointment till this time, but its not a valid excuse. I've always depended on my memory to remind me of all the little things in life, but I can't depend on it anymore. It wasn't until I was taking communion on Sunday that I remembered that I had stood him up. He didn't deserve it. So after calling and leaving a message apologizing for my second screw up...I decided to get a little material help: a day planner. Who would have thought that I'd wait till I was almost 30 to get one of these. I guess my point in all of this rambling is that sometimes we all need just a little help. If you need it...ask for it...go find it. Our greatest help is Jesus.

Someone special

Valorie's grandmother passed away today. She was someone who loved me regardless of the situation. She loved her children, grandchildren, and pretty much anyone who walked through her door. I'm sad that I can't be there for the family at this time. She was just someone special...

Judgment, Hypocrisy, and Friendship

A little over a month ago I had a friend that would on occasion comment on this blog about God and scripture, and actually was a very encouraging person to me. Well when everything went raw on July 24th, this person did something thing that caught me extremely off-guard. This person judged me...and then turned their back on me. This person just stopped associating with me cold turkey. What did I do that was so bad? I reacted just like any other human being does to heart break. I also spoke biblical truth about suffering...either self-caused or not. In short, this person disagreed with me and turned their back on me as a result.

I write about this now because I happened to stop by this person's blog and this person is thanking all of their friends for being there at a rough point in their life. This person has a huge paragraph in their blog about friendship and what it means...yet this person judged me during a snapshot period in my life and threw away a friend that prayed and encouraged just the same. Doesn't it seem just a bit hypocritical to you? How can you exhort your friends and be so thankful for them being there for you when you turn your back on a friend when you disagreed...in judgment no less?

In all of this...how are we supposed to act towards people? Are we supposed to judge? Clearly we are warned throughout God's Word with a resounding no. Are we supposed to love...unconditionally? Absolutely. As you read today, think about your friends...your enemies...those who are just your acquaintances and love them...don't judge. Take the time to put yourselves in their shoes and think of what they are going through. We aren't here to judge...thats God's job. We aren't here to spit in the face of God by being hypocrites. We are here to love....we serve God by loving him...and the people he created. In essence...Christ calls us his friends, and likewise we should treat all people with love and respect...like friends.

As for this person who was my friend...I don't know why things went the way they did. However, I do believe that God is doing wonderful things in this person's life, and I will continue to pray for this person. This person's story is going to rock the world of many and I thank God for that.

Hello Again!

I haven't written in awhile and perhaps for good reason...or maybe not. There have been steady changes as I go. Ever since I let go of my marriage and started chasing God, he's been showing me things...and blessing me with things. Recently something else happened...I'm not sure I want to talk about it, but its something that has shaken me to the core. Its in a good way too. Its just really awesome how sometimes we don't understand why things go the way they go. On July 24th, I could not understand why things went the way they went that day, but now I am understanding it. And for that I'm thankful!

Oh yeah....August 16, 2008 Angels 4 Indians 3... my buddy Micah and I at the game. Oh and btw....he has been an amazing blessing of God on my life. I'm thankful for this friend.

A weeks worth....

I promised pictures from the ballgame last weekend and I'll post them eventually... I like have some other things to say. The last month or so has been rough. Following the disappointment of the 24th, I lost a friend and wondered what to do next. I decided to seek God with everything I had. He hasn't disappointed me. He's brought things up in me that I thought were long gone from my life and now they can finally be dealt with. He's done something else in me...I smile, I crack jokes, I laugh.....I love. In all of my years with my wife, I had a sense of humor only she saw. I was usually very intense with people... God's mellowed that out of me. He's also been dealing with any residual anger I had buried for her. He's been a long road...but he is making me what he wants me to be.

I love Him so much. I'm so thankful for a mighty God who loves us.