My State

Coloradoans are definitely a different breed of people. When I think about the attributes of a typical Colorado person, the picture that comes to mind is a person who is successful, adventurous, active, intelligent, and "open minded". No other place in the county will you find a group of people that are as concerned about health and fitness, enjoying the outdoors, and just living the good life in general. Spiritually speaking, the people of this state also have a very distinct perspective compared to what I've seen and heard of other places. Words like skeptical, distrust, and even resentfulness and contempt are terms that come to mind when I think of the typical perception of Christianity. This is not a new revelation to me, its something that I have observed and kind of gotten used to in my time here. However, it has been reiterated to me several times lately as I have seen somewhat disappointing results with ministry attempts. The church I go to had about 25 students from Texas up in the Fort Collins area to help out with some things going on at the church and in the community. On monday they spent the evening in my neighborhood attempting to do work projects at houses throughout the neighborhood. On Sunday I spent awhile going door to door trying to get people signed up to have any type of work done at their house. After about 20 houses, and 20 polite "no thank you"s, I thought maybe just having the kids go door to door with specific jobs might be a better tactic. The jobs were simple things like window cleaning, garage cleaning, power washing, and yard work, and it was all free. We were just trying to show God's love in a really practical way as well as letting people in the neighborhood know that myself and my roommates were hear and available to help people out in any capacity they needed. After an hour and a half and probably about 100 homes, the team had washed windows at two homes, mowed two lawns, and power washed two houses. That’s just crazy to me! If someone came to my door wanting to clean my garage for me, I would be on that in a heartbeat! Talking with Scott, the youth leader of the team, he mentioned a house that they mowed for where the guy just couldn’t' wrap his mind around the fact that they were doing this with no strings attached. Why is it that people are so mistrusting of Christians? I always like to blame the televangelists and the wackos from Jonesboro who destroy peoples trust in Christians and get plenty of TV time to do it. However, while its easy to blame the problems on the people who are doing all the wrong things, the real problem is the lack of people doing the right things. I strongly believe that if the people of the Church were impacting those in their sphere of influence, not through door-to-door evangelism or letters to the editor, but by living a changed life that cannot help but cause those around them to see God's love, attitudes and hearts would be changed. I'll be the first to admit that I am guilty of being complacent. Before monday, most of my neighbors probably didn’t even know I went to church. I just know that something is going to have to change in order for us to earn the trust of and reach those around us.

Where did it go?

Wow, I cannot believe it is already june. It amazes me how the older I get the quicker time seems to fly by. When I was a kid it seemed like everything was in slow motion, with year after year lazily dragging by. Now its like I can hardly blink without a month flying by. We live in such a fast paced society that has taught us that no matter where you are at in life, you could always be somewhere better. We tend to spend so much time focusing on the future that we forget to enjoy the moment that we have been given. For me, whether its the weekend, or next payday, or vactions, or whatever, I tend to get buried in what I have coming up. None of those things are bad things and there is dfinitely not anything wrong with planning ahead, I just need to learn to take life one day at a time and enjoy what God has given me now. I love the book of Ecclesiates. Solomon was a man that understood life. He had everything; wealth, stature, and wisdom, but also understood that they were meaningless in themselves.

2:10-11
I denied myself nothing me eyes desired. I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart too delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

3:12-13
I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

I need to learn to find satisfaction in what God has given me today. Its not always easy see the joy in whatever circumstances I am in, but I know it will be hard to look back and wonder where the time went when my satisfaction is found not in whats happening around me but in the God who has placed me where I am.