Last year at this time I was still in school. I was studying furiously for finals and working on my senior design project for my degree. I didn't have a job yet, either. It is so hard to think that all of that was only a year ago.
I was not doing well in one of my classes, to the point that I could have failed. But my God's grace, I was disciplined enough to study well for it and passed the class. I also had a super difficult project for my senior design class. This thing was relentless. It took at least thirty hours a week to work on. And that was in addition to everything else I had to do.
Still so weird to think back and say that was simply last year. I was so stressed about not having a job, yet. Most of my classmates who were graduating with me were getting job offers left and right. And I had gone on several interviews and only gotten "no". This was so discouraging. Especially since I had just recently felt that God actually wanted me pursue a full time career in chemical engineering. And then there was nothing that confirmed that. Such a strange time in my life.
Little did I know, although I had thoughts, that God was working something great. While I was working to secure a job, a job was being secured for me. I was having lunch with a friend in Fazoli's (if you live in college station and have never had their Tuesday/Thursday special, you need to...it just might be an open door to a job) and I got a phone call from the company that I would soon call home. They wanted to give me a phone interview after looking at my resume. I gave them an interview and even a desired salary, which I later found out I probably shouldn't have done, although God didn't hold that against me. The strange thing is that I never gave this company my resume. I know this because I was pretty meticulous about keeping records of who I gave my info to, and they were no where. But this wasn't about to stop me from trying them out.
The next week I called them back and asked if there was any news, there wasn't. It was Thanksgiving week and they wouldn't get back to me until after that week. So I waited, and prayed. Oh, did I pray. The following week I received a phone call from the HR in Houston asking me to come in for a face to face interview. After working I details, we scheduled an interview for the following after, after I finished all my finals.
The Wednesday before graduation I went in to interview and it went well! Int was an amazing interview and so smooth. I had never felt this good after an interview before. (as a side note, I personalized every resume that I handed out, and I took a peek at the resume that they had, and it was personalized for the company. There was no obvious way that they could have gotten it). After that interview, I went. Home and sent out thank you emails to every one, and then I headed back to college station for a night of parties. I was meeting with my senior design team for dinner, my small group for a Christmas party and some friends to hang out. After all that fun, I got back to my apartment around midnight and decided to check my email before I went to bed.
The email read " Serge, thank you for your time this morning. I want to be honest with you and tell you that you impressed everyone that you met with today. We would like to move forward with extending you an offer." My heart dropped to the ground. I was speechless. What could I say. For a whole semester I ran around trying to get interviews and failing so badly, then this opportunity drops into my lap. It had to be God. Thank you, Father.
I accepted the official offer which was made on the morning of my graduation. So in one day I finished 16 years of one occupation and started 40 years of another. And it has almost been a year since that time. Wow.
To tie off a loose end, I went recruiting with my company this year and was talking with the HR lady in charge of college recruiting about how I never really submitted a resume. I found out that at the same time that I was trying to find a job, my company was hurting for new hires. So they actually went online and searched for resumes from chemical engineers at A&M and they found me. God works in the most wondrous ways. His grace is enough
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving and the Church
So yesterday was Thanksgiving, as most people know by now. And even though I am Lebanese, my family does celebrate Thanksgiving, well my family in America does. Family in the rest of world does not. I digress.
This year, my family was not all together as usual . Typically we all get together and have a potluck type meal. The host family usually makes the Turkey and everyone else makes the extras. This includes the wide range of Thanksgiving staples: ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, gravy, etc. Now I don't necessarily enjoy all the typical stuff, but I appreciate it.
This year, though, since about half the family wasn't here with us, there were foods that were missing. And we didn't realize it until we had sat down to eat. We almost forgot the rolls. No one brought gravy or green beans. Actually there were no vegetables at all. There was a lot of foods missing. That isnt to say that I wasn't grateful for all the food provided. And I actually at everything there, cause it was all really good and I didn't have to overload myself to try all the food on the table. So it wasn't really all that bad. But for the sake of my metaphor let's pretend it was awful. :)
I realized as I sat at the table with no gravy that each person of the family contributed a certain food to make a complete table. Without everyone there the table was missing certain elements. And I remembered what Paul had wrote about in his letter to the Corinthians about the body of Christ. And how the eye could not say to the hand that it didn't need it. Each part of the body is needed to prove to be profitable to the rest of the body. And without one part the rest of the body suffers.
I know it's a stretch, but the food missing from the table made a Thanksgiving meal that was incomplete because some of the people from the family were not there. In the same way the body of Christ is hurt when someone is missing. Each person brings something to the table, something only they know how to bring. Each person has a gift that has been given to them by God. And we all need to contribute.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This year, my family was not all together as usual . Typically we all get together and have a potluck type meal. The host family usually makes the Turkey and everyone else makes the extras. This includes the wide range of Thanksgiving staples: ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, gravy, etc. Now I don't necessarily enjoy all the typical stuff, but I appreciate it.
This year, though, since about half the family wasn't here with us, there were foods that were missing. And we didn't realize it until we had sat down to eat. We almost forgot the rolls. No one brought gravy or green beans. Actually there were no vegetables at all. There was a lot of foods missing. That isnt to say that I wasn't grateful for all the food provided. And I actually at everything there, cause it was all really good and I didn't have to overload myself to try all the food on the table. So it wasn't really all that bad. But for the sake of my metaphor let's pretend it was awful. :)
I realized as I sat at the table with no gravy that each person of the family contributed a certain food to make a complete table. Without everyone there the table was missing certain elements. And I remembered what Paul had wrote about in his letter to the Corinthians about the body of Christ. And how the eye could not say to the hand that it didn't need it. Each part of the body is needed to prove to be profitable to the rest of the body. And without one part the rest of the body suffers.
I know it's a stretch, but the food missing from the table made a Thanksgiving meal that was incomplete because some of the people from the family were not there. In the same way the body of Christ is hurt when someone is missing. Each person brings something to the table, something only they know how to bring. Each person has a gift that has been given to them by God. And we all need to contribute.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Intimacy with God
So at work one of my many roles as a process engineer is to create drawings of the process that I am designing. The two sets of drawings that I am most familiar with are called Process Flow Diagrams (PFD) and Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&ID). I know that those don't mean anything to most of you, but it is just a set up, so follow me.
For the project that I am on right now, I am actually drawing these diagrams. Like I literally sit the with a pencil and ruler and eraser (for my many mistakes) and draw every line. We finally issued our first set of P&IDs the other day. I was looking through them with a co-worker today and noticed how much I knew about the drawings. I mean, I drew every line, every valve. I know this drawing back and forth. I know its purpose and the purpose of everything on the drawing. I am intimate with these drawings. I know them well because I made them.
In the same way, God made me. He formed me purposely and knows my purpose. He is intimate with me. His knowledge of me goes beyond what I could even imagine knowing about these drawings. This is intimacy.
I can rest knowing that God knows me so well. He knows me more than I will ever know.
For the project that I am on right now, I am actually drawing these diagrams. Like I literally sit the with a pencil and ruler and eraser (for my many mistakes) and draw every line. We finally issued our first set of P&IDs the other day. I was looking through them with a co-worker today and noticed how much I knew about the drawings. I mean, I drew every line, every valve. I know this drawing back and forth. I know its purpose and the purpose of everything on the drawing. I am intimate with these drawings. I know them well because I made them.
In the same way, God made me. He formed me purposely and knows my purpose. He is intimate with me. His knowledge of me goes beyond what I could even imagine knowing about these drawings. This is intimacy.
I can rest knowing that God knows me so well. He knows me more than I will ever know.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Empty Calculations
The other day my boss was talking about a company he had done a job for.
He was talking about how the work he had done was so foolish. All the
calculations were just busy work and simply stupid. They would have
assumptions that did not make sense and messed up the whole calculation.
And they didn't care as long as it looked like they did a lot of work.
My boss made a point to say that this company wasn't a bad company because they didn't spend money on safety and calculations, but because they spent tons of money but it was directed at the wrong things. This company, according to him, spends almost more than any of their competitors in the very places that they are worse at.
That is when I thought of a blog post. It reminded of the religious in our time (and Jesus'). They spend a lot of effort on the doing the right thing. No one can deny that they are really trying hard to be good. In fact they are trying harder than most. They are expending so much energy and effort to get to this place of right standing with God. Yet, they are not righteous. Their good deeds do not cover over their sins. They are still evil sinners who have no place before our holy God. And it isn't because they don't try.
Yet God doesn't expect us to earn anything. He knows that we are not capable. He knows that we can not do anything to be righteous, and he has planned for that. He doesn't want us to work for our salvation. That is why he sent Jesus. Rather, we are to trust in his grace to work in us to do good. I am not saying that we are to be bad and not work to do good. But God wants our good work to be found in his glorious grace.
Today, are you like that company my boss did a job for who is looking toward their effort to be seen as good? Are you expecting to be rewarded for having done more or performed better? Or are you looking to the cross? Knowing full well that your only hope is outside of yourself. Knowing that only be the grace of God are you even able to be counted as righteous. Is your good work coming out of a heart of praise?
These are questions that I have been asking myself. I hope they help you look at your life from a different angle.
My boss made a point to say that this company wasn't a bad company because they didn't spend money on safety and calculations, but because they spent tons of money but it was directed at the wrong things. This company, according to him, spends almost more than any of their competitors in the very places that they are worse at.
That is when I thought of a blog post. It reminded of the religious in our time (and Jesus'). They spend a lot of effort on the doing the right thing. No one can deny that they are really trying hard to be good. In fact they are trying harder than most. They are expending so much energy and effort to get to this place of right standing with God. Yet, they are not righteous. Their good deeds do not cover over their sins. They are still evil sinners who have no place before our holy God. And it isn't because they don't try.
Yet God doesn't expect us to earn anything. He knows that we are not capable. He knows that we can not do anything to be righteous, and he has planned for that. He doesn't want us to work for our salvation. That is why he sent Jesus. Rather, we are to trust in his grace to work in us to do good. I am not saying that we are to be bad and not work to do good. But God wants our good work to be found in his glorious grace.
Today, are you like that company my boss did a job for who is looking toward their effort to be seen as good? Are you expecting to be rewarded for having done more or performed better? Or are you looking to the cross? Knowing full well that your only hope is outside of yourself. Knowing that only be the grace of God are you even able to be counted as righteous. Is your good work coming out of a heart of praise?
These are questions that I have been asking myself. I hope they help you look at your life from a different angle.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Behind enemy lines
He said that there are two ways to look at a difficult
project: we can either think of it as being held captive behind enemy lines or we can think of it as occupying enemy territory.
I think this is a good analogy for us, as God's people, since we really are foreigners in this land. We are native to here, this isn't our home. In fact, this land is enemy territory. So we really do have two response, we can either mourn our status as captured and give into the ways of the enemy and die.
Or we can occupy the territory we are in. We can fight for God. Claim victory in Christ. For this is a war and we are in it. And we are called to fight.
This looks like living with a mission. You are where you are to do some thing. To avoid preaching, I am a process engineer in Houston, TX to impact the kingdom of God here in this place. There are lost souls and weak brothers and sisters who need the gospel of God each and every day. I am not supposed to sit back and let the enemy take a stronger grip on the lives of those around me. I will fight, I must.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Hope that fails
In Romans 5:3-5, there is a discussion about suffering and why it is good for you. It produces endurance and character and hope. And hope in Christ does not put to shame. This post is NOT an exposition of this verse. It is a story that talks about hope that does put to shame. It helped me understand (in an elementary way) why it is important to have a hope that doesn't fail.
A few weeks ago I was working on project that required massive overtime. I was working 55 hours a week, and that is less than most of the people on my project. So this really took a lot of time. At the time of this story, we had just been informed earlier that week that our deadline was no longer the following Friday, but in fact that Wednesday! So as you can imagine, we put it into overdrive (we were told of this the Monday of the same week).
Well, turns out that we had a little wiggle room, but we had to be done by Thursday evening. So on Wednesday my direct lead was talking to me and suggested that it was possible that we wouldn't have to work on Friday, and may even be able to leave a little early on Thursday. I didn't think much of it, because I have learned to be skeptical about stuff like that (which I may need to discuss at some other time).
The next day was Thursday...and we finished! We really did. All our documents went out and were out of our hands. Success! My boss kept coming around talking about not coming in on Friday and leaving early, and seeing how we finished so quickly, I started to believe it. In fact, I started to relish the idea. I was looking forward to going home early (which is actually the normal time I should be leaving). I had small group that night and was going to be able to relax beforehand. And oh the possibilities with a free Friday!
I received a text from my small group leader saying we would have to reschedule. Then my boss determined that we did have stuff to do, so I had to stay late on Thursday. And I even had to come in Friday to finish up some stuff.
UGH!
My heart sank and I was upset! What an awful thing, right? Well I know that it isn't the worst thing in the world. And not even the worst thing that day, or even that hour, but I didn't like it. I had hoped to have some time off. But that hope wasn't really founded on anything. It had never happened before on this project. In fact, the precedence of this project was to make last minute changes all the time (as seen by the moving deadlines above). But I hoped in something that was a little silly, and it sucked when it didn't come through.
Going home that Thursday night I had to tell myself that the only thing to hope in, truly, is God. Yes, we need hope always, but it must be founded on God. I was reminded of Romans 5:4 and that hope never fails, when it is in God. And hope that fails just isn't fun. It doesn't feel good. I would hate to be hoping in something that actually matters ( as opposed to going home early) and have it put me to shame.
I'm glad to know that God is trustworthy and hope in him does not put me to shame! Amen
A few weeks ago I was working on project that required massive overtime. I was working 55 hours a week, and that is less than most of the people on my project. So this really took a lot of time. At the time of this story, we had just been informed earlier that week that our deadline was no longer the following Friday, but in fact that Wednesday! So as you can imagine, we put it into overdrive (we were told of this the Monday of the same week).
Well, turns out that we had a little wiggle room, but we had to be done by Thursday evening. So on Wednesday my direct lead was talking to me and suggested that it was possible that we wouldn't have to work on Friday, and may even be able to leave a little early on Thursday. I didn't think much of it, because I have learned to be skeptical about stuff like that (which I may need to discuss at some other time).
The next day was Thursday...and we finished! We really did. All our documents went out and were out of our hands. Success! My boss kept coming around talking about not coming in on Friday and leaving early, and seeing how we finished so quickly, I started to believe it. In fact, I started to relish the idea. I was looking forward to going home early (which is actually the normal time I should be leaving). I had small group that night and was going to be able to relax beforehand. And oh the possibilities with a free Friday!
I received a text from my small group leader saying we would have to reschedule. Then my boss determined that we did have stuff to do, so I had to stay late on Thursday. And I even had to come in Friday to finish up some stuff.
UGH!
My heart sank and I was upset! What an awful thing, right? Well I know that it isn't the worst thing in the world. And not even the worst thing that day, or even that hour, but I didn't like it. I had hoped to have some time off. But that hope wasn't really founded on anything. It had never happened before on this project. In fact, the precedence of this project was to make last minute changes all the time (as seen by the moving deadlines above). But I hoped in something that was a little silly, and it sucked when it didn't come through.
Going home that Thursday night I had to tell myself that the only thing to hope in, truly, is God. Yes, we need hope always, but it must be founded on God. I was reminded of Romans 5:4 and that hope never fails, when it is in God. And hope that fails just isn't fun. It doesn't feel good. I would hate to be hoping in something that actually matters ( as opposed to going home early) and have it put me to shame.
I'm glad to know that God is trustworthy and hope in him does not put me to shame! Amen
Monday, October 3, 2011
Lessons in leadership
I started my new project today. I like it so far. My new boss is all about training me (and my coworkers) for the long run. Not just to complete this project.
So today he was telling me about how he wanted me to do my job, and I believe that it is really how I should be doing any job, and even stuff outside of work.
So I thought I'd share it with my friends.
He was saying that he wanted me to take leadership over my work. He told me to think before I asked questions and come up with a solution on my own. Even to implement the solution and then present it to him. He said that this way I would actually learn. If I just went to his office and asked him how to do it, I wouldn't learn. But through my mistake I would learn what not to do and the reasoning behind doing it a certain way.
He also said that every person is a leader in his own realm. Each person is in charge of something no matter how small or big. And he told me about how it is each persons responsibility to take care of that area and to make it succed.
This reminded me of two things from the Bible. First the parable of the talents. Three servants are given a different amount of talents each and left to their own. The master leaves, planning to come back at some time to reclaim the money. The first two servants work with their talents and double their original amounts. The third buries it, afraid of losing it. The master comes back and rewards the first tow, but punishes the third for being foolish. I don't know for sure that the oint of this parable is to tell us that we need to take control of our spheres of responsibility, but it sure made me think of this story.
Also, I was reminded of the beginning of time, when God told Adam that he was to work the ground and rule over the earth. God gave man a kingdom to rule over and work in. He expected Adam to take care of it well. And I believe that the idea of rule is so big in our human-ness. Even in the curse, God tells Eve her desire will be to rule over her husband. Everyone wants control. I think that is waphy it is such a big deal to submit ourselves to Christ. We have to give up our lives to pick up something so much greater. We still have responsibility, but it is for a different kingdom. One that will last forever. Whose kingdom are you serving?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
junk
With the industry I am in, and more specifically, within my company, "your" desk is never your desk.
I work on a specific project for a certain period of time, after the process is done, I move on to a new project. But since all our project are done for different competing clients, everyone has to sit in the area designated for the project. So when I say I "move on" to a different project, I mean that I literally box up all my stuff and submit a "Relocation Request" and all my stuff gets moved to a new cube, on a new floor, of a new building.
Well, it's time for me to move again. My project (or least my part on this project) has come to an end and it is time to pack up and move. I'll start a new project next week, but for now, I just have to pack. And don't get me wrong, packing will not take too much time, but as I begin this process I realize how much junk I have. I am walking back and forth to the recycling bin throwing out so much paper that I have saved over the past few months. I have way more pens and highlighters than when I started this project. And most of the stuff I've
accumulated are not needed.
It's weird to think about how this stuff just compiled. I didn't mean to save up a bunch of papers only to be recycled in a few months. I didn't realize that I was collecting writing utensils. But I have. And (ready for the spiritual parallel?) I believe that it is the same way that sin grows in our lives, my life. I have never woken up and said to myself "Today let's gossip!" That would be absurd and I would smack myself. But gossip happens slowly. I have never thought, "Let's lust!" But it slowly accumulates, a glace here, a look there, then a stare, then a stray thought. Sin isn't bad because it hits like a bomb. But it creeps in and slowly grows. It builds on itself. It is junk.
But the Good News is that Christ Jesus has defeated sin. He has died to the effects of sin and risen victoriously over it. And that life is promised for us. I'm not saying that I will never sin again because I have been baptized in Jesus' name. But what I am saying is that in him, sin isn't our master, God is. We don't have to allow sin to grow and to accumulate like the junk in my cube. God is there to clean us up. To heal us. And to give us true life.
If you have junk in your life, you don't need to explain where it came from (although knowing may help prevent it in the future), but you need to go to God and have him clean you up. Don't try to do it yourself, I'll tell you right now, it's useless. Only God has conquered sin. Only in him is there freedom.
amen
I work on a specific project for a certain period of time, after the process is done, I move on to a new project. But since all our project are done for different competing clients, everyone has to sit in the area designated for the project. So when I say I "move on" to a different project, I mean that I literally box up all my stuff and submit a "Relocation Request" and all my stuff gets moved to a new cube, on a new floor, of a new building.
Well, it's time for me to move again. My project (or least my part on this project) has come to an end and it is time to pack up and move. I'll start a new project next week, but for now, I just have to pack. And don't get me wrong, packing will not take too much time, but as I begin this process I realize how much junk I have. I am walking back and forth to the recycling bin throwing out so much paper that I have saved over the past few months. I have way more pens and highlighters than when I started this project. And most of the stuff I've
accumulated are not needed.
It's weird to think about how this stuff just compiled. I didn't mean to save up a bunch of papers only to be recycled in a few months. I didn't realize that I was collecting writing utensils. But I have. And (ready for the spiritual parallel?) I believe that it is the same way that sin grows in our lives, my life. I have never woken up and said to myself "Today let's gossip!" That would be absurd and I would smack myself. But gossip happens slowly. I have never thought, "Let's lust!" But it slowly accumulates, a glace here, a look there, then a stare, then a stray thought. Sin isn't bad because it hits like a bomb. But it creeps in and slowly grows. It builds on itself. It is junk.
But the Good News is that Christ Jesus has defeated sin. He has died to the effects of sin and risen victoriously over it. And that life is promised for us. I'm not saying that I will never sin again because I have been baptized in Jesus' name. But what I am saying is that in him, sin isn't our master, God is. We don't have to allow sin to grow and to accumulate like the junk in my cube. God is there to clean us up. To heal us. And to give us true life.
If you have junk in your life, you don't need to explain where it came from (although knowing may help prevent it in the future), but you need to go to God and have him clean you up. Don't try to do it yourself, I'll tell you right now, it's useless. Only God has conquered sin. Only in him is there freedom.
amen
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Give reason
Peter tells us in his first letter: "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect"
(1 Peter 3:15)
I always used to read this verse and say "I got this! I have written out my testimony and practiced it dozens of times!" Which is true, I have practiced dozens of times. I've even practiced with long testimonies over coffee that took an hour or more. I've practiced with a five sentence testimony, which is exactly what it sounds like. This isn't to show off or anything, it's just fact. I have taken this verse to heart and prepared myself.
I am prepared to give reason for my faith...
Well the other day I was hit with something that I wasn't prepared for. I was talking with a co-worker and she noticed that I had a blog up. She asked what blogs I follow and as I started listing a few, I realized that they were all "Christian" blogs. So I told her that it's a bunch of Christian blogs that she wouldn't have heard of.
So she asked me "Why are you a Christian?"
(Cue testimony). Right???
Wrong.
"Well, I was raised going to church and when I got to college I guess I just started getting a little more serious in my faith."
That's not my testimony. I never practiced that. And honestly, in the moment, I wasn't even thinking about sharing my testimony. I didn't realize she was asking for it. I just wanted to take the subject off Christ as quickly as I could.
When I read this verse before I always expected the non-believer to come to me and say "What is your testimony about how you were saved?" Now I realize that that isn't going to happen. That this girl sincerely asked me for a reason for my hope and I shut it down. She was looking for a real reason to hope and now she is still searching.
I am not beating myself up about this, thinking that I ruined all hope of her ever being saved. But I am using this as 1) an opportunity to warn other about waiting for the word "testimony" to share their faith. and 2) to learn about myself and how I react to others talking about and challenging my faith in the office. I never expected or planned on being the guy who kept his faith in Jesus private from everyone else. And I don't plan on staying on this path of being ashamed of the gospel. If you wanted to pray for me, you can pray that I would stand strong on the power of the gospel.
(1 Peter 3:15)
I always used to read this verse and say "I got this! I have written out my testimony and practiced it dozens of times!" Which is true, I have practiced dozens of times. I've even practiced with long testimonies over coffee that took an hour or more. I've practiced with a five sentence testimony, which is exactly what it sounds like. This isn't to show off or anything, it's just fact. I have taken this verse to heart and prepared myself.
I am prepared to give reason for my faith...
Well the other day I was hit with something that I wasn't prepared for. I was talking with a co-worker and she noticed that I had a blog up. She asked what blogs I follow and as I started listing a few, I realized that they were all "Christian" blogs. So I told her that it's a bunch of Christian blogs that she wouldn't have heard of.
So she asked me "Why are you a Christian?"
(Cue testimony). Right???
Wrong.
"Well, I was raised going to church and when I got to college I guess I just started getting a little more serious in my faith."
That's not my testimony. I never practiced that. And honestly, in the moment, I wasn't even thinking about sharing my testimony. I didn't realize she was asking for it. I just wanted to take the subject off Christ as quickly as I could.
When I read this verse before I always expected the non-believer to come to me and say "What is your testimony about how you were saved?" Now I realize that that isn't going to happen. That this girl sincerely asked me for a reason for my hope and I shut it down. She was looking for a real reason to hope and now she is still searching.
I am not beating myself up about this, thinking that I ruined all hope of her ever being saved. But I am using this as 1) an opportunity to warn other about waiting for the word "testimony" to share their faith. and 2) to learn about myself and how I react to others talking about and challenging my faith in the office. I never expected or planned on being the guy who kept his faith in Jesus private from everyone else. And I don't plan on staying on this path of being ashamed of the gospel. If you wanted to pray for me, you can pray that I would stand strong on the power of the gospel.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Reinventing the wheel...sorta
So at work (i'm on my lunch break) I started putting pens in my shirt pocket. I say "started" I've done it a few times scattered throughout my 6 months here. And today I am sporting the pen in my shirt. It made sense since I am in meetings where I need to be able to whip out a pen quickly and write something down, but I don't want to forget it or keep playing with it.
Anyway, I just got a gel pen from our supply cabinet because I here people praising the greatness of a gel pen all the time, but I have never gotten into it, so I wanted to try again. And as I put the pen in my shirt pocket I thought to myself: "What if the pen clicks open and draws all over my shirt? Or worse, what if it busts and ink spills all over my shirt?!? I really ought to put some sort of covering or pouch to put my pens in to protect my pocket...."
That is correct, I just thought of the idea for a pocket protector. Like I said, reinventing the wheel. My next thought was "I am such a nerd." But I still think the idea of a pocket protector actually makes sense when you need it. So I may be a nerd, but I don't have a big ink blot on my shirt. :)
And for the reference, I never got the protector, I just thought about it.
Anyway, I just got a gel pen from our supply cabinet because I here people praising the greatness of a gel pen all the time, but I have never gotten into it, so I wanted to try again. And as I put the pen in my shirt pocket I thought to myself: "What if the pen clicks open and draws all over my shirt? Or worse, what if it busts and ink spills all over my shirt?!? I really ought to put some sort of covering or pouch to put my pens in to protect my pocket...."
That is correct, I just thought of the idea for a pocket protector. Like I said, reinventing the wheel. My next thought was "I am such a nerd." But I still think the idea of a pocket protector actually makes sense when you need it. So I may be a nerd, but I don't have a big ink blot on my shirt. :)
And for the reference, I never got the protector, I just thought about it.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Karate Kid
I have a confession to make to my generation: I have never watched the Karate Kid. Mr. Miyagi is just a name to me. I'm sorry.
And to make matters worse, I watched the Karate Kid last night...except it was the new one with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Also, sorry.
But I think I can make it up because I got some insight into how the Karate Kid links to the Christian life. Actually it may be how it doesn't link, but we'll see.
So in the movie Jackie Chan is teaching Jaden the "basics of all that is 'kung fu'" (also side note: why are they doing kung fu in the Karate kid????). And I believe this is supposed to relate to Mr. Miyagi teaching that boy (I have no clue what his name is, and don't care enough to look it up :/ again, sorry) to clean windows. "Wipe on, wipe off." But here Chan is telling Jaden to take off his jacket, hang it up, and put it back on. This happens for days or weeks till Jaden gets fed up and tells Chan that he no longer wants to train and that Chan knows nothing about Kung Fu.
It is at this time that Chan begins to 'attack' Jaden and tell him to put his jacket on, and shows that it is a defensive move. Then hanging it up is offensive. And so on. After Jaden is entirely astounded that Chan actually knows what he is talking about Chan says "Kung Fu is in everything we do. Everything is kung fu."
That got me thinking. This is not true about Kung Fu. I know that many people around the world believe this and other stuff about positive and negative energy, but it isn't true. What is true is that Christ is in everything. Colossians 1 talks about Christ being the first born of all creation, the one from whom all things were created. All that we do reflects the image and glory of God in some way or shape.
I could keep going, but I think the point is made. If I were talking to a disciple of mine I would tell him confidently after beating him up that "Christ is in everything we do. Everything is Christ." Also, I'd call him "Little Christ"...oh wait, that's Christian...I guess that works ;)
And to make matters worse, I watched the Karate Kid last night...except it was the new one with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Also, sorry.
But I think I can make it up because I got some insight into how the Karate Kid links to the Christian life. Actually it may be how it doesn't link, but we'll see.
So in the movie Jackie Chan is teaching Jaden the "basics of all that is 'kung fu'" (also side note: why are they doing kung fu in the Karate kid????). And I believe this is supposed to relate to Mr. Miyagi teaching that boy (I have no clue what his name is, and don't care enough to look it up :/ again, sorry) to clean windows. "Wipe on, wipe off." But here Chan is telling Jaden to take off his jacket, hang it up, and put it back on. This happens for days or weeks till Jaden gets fed up and tells Chan that he no longer wants to train and that Chan knows nothing about Kung Fu.
It is at this time that Chan begins to 'attack' Jaden and tell him to put his jacket on, and shows that it is a defensive move. Then hanging it up is offensive. And so on. After Jaden is entirely astounded that Chan actually knows what he is talking about Chan says "Kung Fu is in everything we do. Everything is kung fu."
That got me thinking. This is not true about Kung Fu. I know that many people around the world believe this and other stuff about positive and negative energy, but it isn't true. What is true is that Christ is in everything. Colossians 1 talks about Christ being the first born of all creation, the one from whom all things were created. All that we do reflects the image and glory of God in some way or shape.
I could keep going, but I think the point is made. If I were talking to a disciple of mine I would tell him confidently after beating him up that "Christ is in everything we do. Everything is Christ." Also, I'd call him "Little Christ"...oh wait, that's Christian...I guess that works ;)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
running by the bayou
so i began running again today. i ran for a stint my last semester in college, but then got shin splints and had to stop. but now i am classified as "sedentary" since i sit all day. so i decided to begin running and working out again.
so a few years ago the subdivision my parents live in built a running/jogging/walking trail around a little bayou that we have in the middle of the subdivision. so i took up running on that. (when i say running, i lie a bit...it is a jog/walk program created to get me jogging/running for 30 min straight in 10 weeks).
anyway, as i am running i noticed that the people running on this track are not amazingly fit. they would not be the front page people for a gym. they are just average people trying to get out more. the last time i ran it was in a gym. and in the gym, people are fit. they run well. they look good. and frankly, i feel little when i go there. i feel like i don't measure up. and i feel like everyone is there to show the other person up.
but here, at the bayou, there is no presumption. no one is better than the other. everyone is tired. everyone is weak. everyone is just trying to be a little better. and while running around that smelly bayou, there is an unspoken connection between the people. a community built in sweat, weariness, and silent head nods.
thinking about this reminded me of church. and how some churches i've been to remind me of the gym. people look good. they have it together. and their purpose is showing up to church is to be better than others and to show others how they are better.
but then there are the churches that i feel comfortable in. these are the churches resembling the stinky bayou. people here don't have it together. they are weak, tired, messed up. but they come. they meet here regularly, not because they have it together, but because they dont. they meet to encourage each other. to build one another up, not themselves.
this is the church that i go to. cause i'll be the first to admit, i don't have it all together. i don't know what's goin' on all the time. i am weary. join me at the bayou.
so a few years ago the subdivision my parents live in built a running/jogging/walking trail around a little bayou that we have in the middle of the subdivision. so i took up running on that. (when i say running, i lie a bit...it is a jog/walk program created to get me jogging/running for 30 min straight in 10 weeks).
anyway, as i am running i noticed that the people running on this track are not amazingly fit. they would not be the front page people for a gym. they are just average people trying to get out more. the last time i ran it was in a gym. and in the gym, people are fit. they run well. they look good. and frankly, i feel little when i go there. i feel like i don't measure up. and i feel like everyone is there to show the other person up.
but here, at the bayou, there is no presumption. no one is better than the other. everyone is tired. everyone is weak. everyone is just trying to be a little better. and while running around that smelly bayou, there is an unspoken connection between the people. a community built in sweat, weariness, and silent head nods.
thinking about this reminded me of church. and how some churches i've been to remind me of the gym. people look good. they have it together. and their purpose is showing up to church is to be better than others and to show others how they are better.
but then there are the churches that i feel comfortable in. these are the churches resembling the stinky bayou. people here don't have it together. they are weak, tired, messed up. but they come. they meet here regularly, not because they have it together, but because they dont. they meet to encourage each other. to build one another up, not themselves.
this is the church that i go to. cause i'll be the first to admit, i don't have it all together. i don't know what's goin' on all the time. i am weary. join me at the bayou.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Forgiven!
Like many students now-a-days I took out some loans to go to college. Was it necessarily the ONLY way? No, probably not. Am I now understanding what the Bible means when it says "the borrower is slave to the lender"? Yes, definitely. Do I regret it? No, not really.
Well, last week I got a letter from one of my lenders. You know what it said?
"Congratulations! We would like to let you know that your loan with us has been forgiven."
Wait what?
Yes, that loan (a large one) was entirely forgiven. Now just a heads up, this loan was part of a program from the state of Texas that forgives loans for students that meet certain criteria. Which I met. So it wasn't just straight up free money, but still pretty cool. And even though I knew I met the requirements to be forgiven, there was still that fear that the bureaucracy would mess something. And until that letter, that loan was still a huge burden.
I've always been intrigued, however, by the language used there. My loan, my debt, has been forgiven. Sounds a lot like what we have in Jesus Christ. The massive debt. The payment for my sin. My sin required a payment of blood. MY blood. My sin, my death. Not because God is evil. But actually for the exact opposite. God is so perfect, so holy, so full of glory. Because he is so holy, my sin could not be near him. I could not be near him.
Unlike my loan forgiveness, however, I did not do anything to earn this forgiveness. I did not meet any criteria. I accomplished nothing. Jesus, my Lord, took my suffering for me. He was blameless and yet he took my place. He stood in the way of God's wrath, and died to pay for my sin. Not just that, though. (although that would have been enough).
He rose from the dead as well. He defeated sin. He proved to be victorious over death. And in his life, he gave me life. He stands alive and ensures that when I physically die on this earth, that I will live eternally with him. He have me his Holy Spirit to secure for me an inheritance with the King.
So when I get that letter telling me I've been forgiven of my debt I see/feel in a tangible way what that means. I see that debt is weighty and that forgiveness is a BIG deal. And I am able to praise God even more.
Amen.
"Congratulations! We would like to let you know that your loan with us has been forgiven."
Wait what?
Yes, that loan (a large one) was entirely forgiven. Now just a heads up, this loan was part of a program from the state of Texas that forgives loans for students that meet certain criteria. Which I met. So it wasn't just straight up free money, but still pretty cool. And even though I knew I met the requirements to be forgiven, there was still that fear that the bureaucracy would mess something. And until that letter, that loan was still a huge burden.
I've always been intrigued, however, by the language used there. My loan, my debt, has been forgiven. Sounds a lot like what we have in Jesus Christ. The massive debt. The payment for my sin. My sin required a payment of blood. MY blood. My sin, my death. Not because God is evil. But actually for the exact opposite. God is so perfect, so holy, so full of glory. Because he is so holy, my sin could not be near him. I could not be near him.
Unlike my loan forgiveness, however, I did not do anything to earn this forgiveness. I did not meet any criteria. I accomplished nothing. Jesus, my Lord, took my suffering for me. He was blameless and yet he took my place. He stood in the way of God's wrath, and died to pay for my sin. Not just that, though. (although that would have been enough).
He rose from the dead as well. He defeated sin. He proved to be victorious over death. And in his life, he gave me life. He stands alive and ensures that when I physically die on this earth, that I will live eternally with him. He have me his Holy Spirit to secure for me an inheritance with the King.
So when I get that letter telling me I've been forgiven of my debt I see/feel in a tangible way what that means. I see that debt is weighty and that forgiveness is a BIG deal. And I am able to praise God even more.
Amen.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Plumb Line
My dad and I were putting tile down in our bathroom last weekend. And before we actually laid the tile me dad told me to get a "plumb line." I had heard of this before, but never in terms of laying tile. So we stretched out the line across the longest span of the bathroom into what we considered to be straight. (for purposes of illustration let's say it was perfectly straight).
We drew with blue chalk on the actual rope and then snapped it on the ground to create a nice straight blue line. I began to remove the actual plumb line. "stop!" my dad yelled. (not really YELLED but more of an exclamation) Turns out that you are supposed to leave the plumb line there the whole time.
Now the purpose of this line is to make sure that as you go down the length of the bathroom the tiles are laid in a straight line and don't slowly curve. The blue line we popped on is to make sure the plumb line is always on line. So as we went along laying tiles and making sure they were straight in respect to the plumb line. We kept checking the plumb line to make sure it was lined up with the blue chalk.
I wanted to say that Christ is the plumb line. Just like Ephesians says that he is the cornerstone. It is based on HIS perfection that we are conformed into perfection. But at the same time, the plumb line was subject to the blue chalk. So maybe Christ is the blue chalk? And the Church is the plumb line? No, maybe not.
I guess it is true that all analogies break down at some point. I guess this point was much sooner than expected...
The point is, though, that Christ is the base. He is the model. The one that we strive to imitate. The one that we are conformed to. And the one that we will be like in the end of time. So if you are trying to look like a model in a magazine or to act like your best friend or be as big as the guy next to you at the gym, I would say that you are pursuing something that is false. Not just you, me as well. We are pursuing a useless and false and probably evil goal, when we try to be conformed to anything other than Christ.
The way is straight and narrow. Even a small deviation drives us off track. I will end my rambling now, but if you're not sure as to the truth in what I'm saying, look in the Bible. It is chock full of people who have pursued false goals and been corrected (or killed). It is also full of people who pursued God and ultimately received their reward. Check it out. Let me know what you think
Maybe you have a way to make the analogy work?
We drew with blue chalk on the actual rope and then snapped it on the ground to create a nice straight blue line. I began to remove the actual plumb line. "stop!" my dad yelled. (not really YELLED but more of an exclamation) Turns out that you are supposed to leave the plumb line there the whole time.
Now the purpose of this line is to make sure that as you go down the length of the bathroom the tiles are laid in a straight line and don't slowly curve. The blue line we popped on is to make sure the plumb line is always on line. So as we went along laying tiles and making sure they were straight in respect to the plumb line. We kept checking the plumb line to make sure it was lined up with the blue chalk.
I wanted to say that Christ is the plumb line. Just like Ephesians says that he is the cornerstone. It is based on HIS perfection that we are conformed into perfection. But at the same time, the plumb line was subject to the blue chalk. So maybe Christ is the blue chalk? And the Church is the plumb line? No, maybe not.
I guess it is true that all analogies break down at some point. I guess this point was much sooner than expected...
The point is, though, that Christ is the base. He is the model. The one that we strive to imitate. The one that we are conformed to. And the one that we will be like in the end of time. So if you are trying to look like a model in a magazine or to act like your best friend or be as big as the guy next to you at the gym, I would say that you are pursuing something that is false. Not just you, me as well. We are pursuing a useless and false and probably evil goal, when we try to be conformed to anything other than Christ.
The way is straight and narrow. Even a small deviation drives us off track. I will end my rambling now, but if you're not sure as to the truth in what I'm saying, look in the Bible. It is chock full of people who have pursued false goals and been corrected (or killed). It is also full of people who pursued God and ultimately received their reward. Check it out. Let me know what you think
Maybe you have a way to make the analogy work?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
responsibility
I don't wanna grow up. I'm a toys-r-us kid!
I am starting to get more responsibility at work. And it is kinda scary.
yes, I am an engineer by degree, but that doesn't mean that I should be allowed to engineer stuff!
I just feel like peter parker "with great power comes great responsiblity" but the other way around. or something. okay that actually doesn't apply. i don't have great power. i actually have no power.
point is my boss is beginning to trust me with more stuff, and i don't feel like i'm ready for it. i don't feel like i have enough experience or general knowledge to do stuff on my own.
ready for the third random childhood reference for the night? here it is: remember rugrats? I recall one episode where angelica is turning 3 (maybe 4?) and finds out that growing up requires responsibility. and in response she dresses up as a baby and tries to grow down.
random, i know. but i have that thought ingrained in my mind every time i think of responsibility.
this is usually the point that i would connect rugrats to my spiritual life and come to an amazing conclusion. as implied by my last sentence, that wont be happening this time. in all honesty, i dont have a deep connection. my boss is trusting me more and more and i don't want it. i want to be a child and not grow up. its actually a love hate realtionship.
i don't have an answer for this concern of mine. and i am also learning that it is okay to not always have answer. i didn't want to just pose problems to which i have already found a solution, cause that isn't reality. in reality i don't have all my problem solved as soon as they appear. in fact it takes a long time to find a solution. after that long time is when i will typically tell people my problem, along with how i overcame. this time i'm trying it a bit differently. :)
I am starting to get more responsibility at work. And it is kinda scary.
yes, I am an engineer by degree, but that doesn't mean that I should be allowed to engineer stuff!
I just feel like peter parker "with great power comes great responsiblity" but the other way around. or something. okay that actually doesn't apply. i don't have great power. i actually have no power.
point is my boss is beginning to trust me with more stuff, and i don't feel like i'm ready for it. i don't feel like i have enough experience or general knowledge to do stuff on my own.
ready for the third random childhood reference for the night? here it is: remember rugrats? I recall one episode where angelica is turning 3 (maybe 4?) and finds out that growing up requires responsibility. and in response she dresses up as a baby and tries to grow down.
random, i know. but i have that thought ingrained in my mind every time i think of responsibility.
this is usually the point that i would connect rugrats to my spiritual life and come to an amazing conclusion. as implied by my last sentence, that wont be happening this time. in all honesty, i dont have a deep connection. my boss is trusting me more and more and i don't want it. i want to be a child and not grow up. its actually a love hate realtionship.
i don't have an answer for this concern of mine. and i am also learning that it is okay to not always have answer. i didn't want to just pose problems to which i have already found a solution, cause that isn't reality. in reality i don't have all my problem solved as soon as they appear. in fact it takes a long time to find a solution. after that long time is when i will typically tell people my problem, along with how i overcame. this time i'm trying it a bit differently. :)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Rock Climbing...for God!
Okay, I don't actually know what it means to "Rock Climb for God!" but I thought it sounded cooler than "Rock Climbing." I think you would agree.
I got to go rock climbing this weekend with some great friends. And it was awful! Actually, it was great, but the next day was awful! I was sore sore and my body was fatigued. I couldn't even write! Crazy, right? Anyway, below is my deep observation of rock climbing and how it relates to the Christian faith, enjoy!
Well, for those who don't know when you're rock climbing (this is indoor rock climbing, I would never trust myself to go rock climbing on real rocks) there are two roles you are in. You are either the climber or the belay-er. The climber climbs. And the belay-er belays. The last one may need more explanation. This person is anchored to the ground to act as your lifeline. If you fall, or get tired, or reach the top and need to come down, you look the belay-person to help you. They are your support.
Now I had always thought that the person climbing did the all the work and the person standing as belay just got to stand there. Boy was I wrong. The belay-er does just as much work as the climber. I mean the life (or at least health) of the climber is literally in their hands. As the climber climbs, the belay-er must tighten the line to remove all slack. This is so the climber doesn't get tangled in the rope and so if they fall, they don't fall all the way. If the climber is exhausted, the belay-er has to hold the rope tight while the climber rests. And when the climber gets discouraged (as I often was when I climbed the wall) the belay-er acts as a coach and encourager, sometime giving the climber a little extra lift to make it to the next step.
So it got me thinking. I could write a whole post about what it means to "climb the wall of faith" and to not give up. And to reach for the top. But that is typical. And I think that we put too much emphasis on the person doing the climbing sometimes. Sometimes, our role is to be the encourager. Barnabas, if you will. Note I did not write "Barabas", but "Barnabas", BIG difference. :)
The supporting role is so often looked down on. But after this weekend, I which it wasn't. I wish I didn't look down on it so often. Let me tell you after you have climbed a wall and assume the role of belay-er, pulling the slack tight is at times more difficult than the climb itself. Encouraging the person who is doing the visible work is tough. Cause in the end, they accomplished the task, not you. They reached the top, while you held them there. I don't know how deep it can go, but I definitely want to give a shout out to all those people who take the role of the belay-er. Who struggle through that and ensure that their friend makes it to the top.
Who yell out to their discouraged friend "Right next to your right knee is a yellow one you can stand on!" Who wont let them off the wall till the complete the task they set out to complete. Who love them and give themselves for them. Thank you friend. Though I may not say it enough, you are a blessing to all.
(as a side note, I think that we often see marriage and the woman's role like the belay-er. it isn't glamorous and some may point to the wife and say you're not actually doing anything. but how far from the truth that is. The climber would fail without the belayer. That is a fact. Both are so important to the success of the climb and neither role is easy to fulfill. We may get frustrated with the other role from time to time thinking they are not doing enough or that they have it easy. But we all will struggle on the climb. And we all need one another. If this last part is encouraging, take it and be encouraged. If not, ignore it. It's in parenthesis anyway.)
I got to go rock climbing this weekend with some great friends. And it was awful! Actually, it was great, but the next day was awful! I was sore sore and my body was fatigued. I couldn't even write! Crazy, right? Anyway, below is my deep observation of rock climbing and how it relates to the Christian faith, enjoy!
Well, for those who don't know when you're rock climbing (this is indoor rock climbing, I would never trust myself to go rock climbing on real rocks) there are two roles you are in. You are either the climber or the belay-er. The climber climbs. And the belay-er belays. The last one may need more explanation. This person is anchored to the ground to act as your lifeline. If you fall, or get tired, or reach the top and need to come down, you look the belay-person to help you. They are your support.
Now I had always thought that the person climbing did the all the work and the person standing as belay just got to stand there. Boy was I wrong. The belay-er does just as much work as the climber. I mean the life (or at least health) of the climber is literally in their hands. As the climber climbs, the belay-er must tighten the line to remove all slack. This is so the climber doesn't get tangled in the rope and so if they fall, they don't fall all the way. If the climber is exhausted, the belay-er has to hold the rope tight while the climber rests. And when the climber gets discouraged (as I often was when I climbed the wall) the belay-er acts as a coach and encourager, sometime giving the climber a little extra lift to make it to the next step.
So it got me thinking. I could write a whole post about what it means to "climb the wall of faith" and to not give up. And to reach for the top. But that is typical. And I think that we put too much emphasis on the person doing the climbing sometimes. Sometimes, our role is to be the encourager. Barnabas, if you will. Note I did not write "Barabas", but "Barnabas", BIG difference. :)
The supporting role is so often looked down on. But after this weekend, I which it wasn't. I wish I didn't look down on it so often. Let me tell you after you have climbed a wall and assume the role of belay-er, pulling the slack tight is at times more difficult than the climb itself. Encouraging the person who is doing the visible work is tough. Cause in the end, they accomplished the task, not you. They reached the top, while you held them there. I don't know how deep it can go, but I definitely want to give a shout out to all those people who take the role of the belay-er. Who struggle through that and ensure that their friend makes it to the top.
Who yell out to their discouraged friend "Right next to your right knee is a yellow one you can stand on!" Who wont let them off the wall till the complete the task they set out to complete. Who love them and give themselves for them. Thank you friend. Though I may not say it enough, you are a blessing to all.
(as a side note, I think that we often see marriage and the woman's role like the belay-er. it isn't glamorous and some may point to the wife and say you're not actually doing anything. but how far from the truth that is. The climber would fail without the belayer. That is a fact. Both are so important to the success of the climb and neither role is easy to fulfill. We may get frustrated with the other role from time to time thinking they are not doing enough or that they have it easy. But we all will struggle on the climb. And we all need one another. If this last part is encouraging, take it and be encouraged. If not, ignore it. It's in parenthesis anyway.)
Monday, February 21, 2011
you forgot the cheese!
i got off work early this evening. actually i got off on time, just for the past 6 weeks, though, I have been working late...so it's pretty much early. that has nothing to do with my story, but i just thought i would share. :)
my little sister came home with my mom and was excited because she had convinced my mom to make mac n' cheese for dinner. she loves mac n' cheese. anyway, my mom puts the macaroni on the stove to allow the noodles to cook. after about 5 min, she was in her room doing something and asked my sis to stir the noodles. my sister opens the lid and cries in anger and frustration: "mom! you forgot the cheese!"
my mom responds with "i'm not done yet, the cheese comes later"
That's the end of that story, now comes when i over spiritual-ize the story:
how often do we look at what God is doing in our lives and respond in frustration "God! You're forgetting the best part!" We think we know how it should work. We think that we know how God's blessings need to work, and when He needs to bless us.
what if we choose to stop and listen. what if God is responding like my mom: "i'm not done yet, the best part comes later. i know it looks awful now, and nothing like you expected, but in the end, your reward is so much better than you could ever imagine."
in the end, my sister informed me with joy that the mac n' cheese was really good! and i'm glad.
my little sister came home with my mom and was excited because she had convinced my mom to make mac n' cheese for dinner. she loves mac n' cheese. anyway, my mom puts the macaroni on the stove to allow the noodles to cook. after about 5 min, she was in her room doing something and asked my sis to stir the noodles. my sister opens the lid and cries in anger and frustration: "mom! you forgot the cheese!"
my mom responds with "i'm not done yet, the cheese comes later"
That's the end of that story, now comes when i over spiritual-ize the story:
how often do we look at what God is doing in our lives and respond in frustration "God! You're forgetting the best part!" We think we know how it should work. We think that we know how God's blessings need to work, and when He needs to bless us.
what if we choose to stop and listen. what if God is responding like my mom: "i'm not done yet, the best part comes later. i know it looks awful now, and nothing like you expected, but in the end, your reward is so much better than you could ever imagine."
in the end, my sister informed me with joy that the mac n' cheese was really good! and i'm glad.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Even Process Engineering?
This morning as I was having my quiet time, I began to write about how everything points to God. The passage was talking about idol worship and I was combating that by saying that giving glory to anything other than God is wrong, because everything points to him and exists for his glory. Not crazy deep, but true.
Then I wrote out a questions that I have been struggling with for a while : "Even Process Engineering?"
That is what I do. I am a Process Engineer. That means that I engineer chemical-type processes. This includes everything from the chemistry of the plant, to determining how big a pump needs to be to get fluid from point A to point B, to meeting with other types of engineers to work out issues and questions. I have only been doing this for 5 weeks now, so my role to this point has been determining the size of pumps and tanks in the plant...Don't be fooled, it isn't as crazy fun as it sounds. No really, I know it sounds comparable to a week at Disney World, but trust...it's not.
Well, in this mundane role I have begun to question how God gets any glory from this. How does my work here, now, sizing this pump, give God any glory and advance his Kingdom?
Well, this morning when I asked myself this question, here's the answer I wrote out:
Then I wrote out a questions that I have been struggling with for a while : "Even Process Engineering?"
That is what I do. I am a Process Engineer. That means that I engineer chemical-type processes. This includes everything from the chemistry of the plant, to determining how big a pump needs to be to get fluid from point A to point B, to meeting with other types of engineers to work out issues and questions. I have only been doing this for 5 weeks now, so my role to this point has been determining the size of pumps and tanks in the plant...Don't be fooled, it isn't as crazy fun as it sounds. No really, I know it sounds comparable to a week at Disney World, but trust...it's not.
Well, in this mundane role I have begun to question how God gets any glory from this. How does my work here, now, sizing this pump, give God any glory and advance his Kingdom?
Well, this morning when I asked myself this question, here's the answer I wrote out:
Yes. We are creating, like God. We are using the physical laws of our Lord to create a process that works every time. We relate with other people, who were made in the image of God, and who are loved by him just as I am. So yes, even Process Engineering points back to God.I'm not going to say that everything makes perfect sense now and that all is great! But I do feel more at peace. I do acknowledge God's ways more. And I think I can work with more purpose and joy knowing that God does receive glory from even the simplest tasks.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
God the Rock
Okay, this is a post of encouragement and teaching to primarily college students (which most of my friends fall in that category) but I think all of us need this.
I used to say, and still believe, that every semester of college is completely different than the last. There may be some similarities, but for the most part it is a completely new life. This is one of the facets of college life. Every semester you have new classes, new schedules, new friends. You don't eat with the same people at the same time at the same place because it just doesn't work like it did the semester before. And that's fine.
My only problem with this advice fell upon graduation. Okay, it's great to know that each semester will be different, but I am entering the real world where each year is the same with minor changes. Quite the opposite of college, so why is this a good thing to learn in college??? Because the biggest change is when you leave college.
here comes my rant:
While you are in college, whether you are graduating in May or just started last fall, you must strive to make God the core. God must be the Rock in your life. All that you are must be built on the Rock that is God. In fact, I will give it as a command: Build your foundation, your core, on God. This isn't an investment option.This is a necessity. Because when you get out of college everything, EVERYTHING changes. Nothing stays the same. People change, places change, schedules change, everything changes. But God.
God never changes. He is, and was, and will be forever. He is constant in an ever changing life. He is a strong rock.
And if you build your foundation on Him, when everything around changes, your core wont. It cant. If all of your life is grounded in God, and God doesn't change, your life doesn't get turned over. Things will still change, and it will still be difficult, but you will still be strong in God.
If you don't build yourself on God, your life will fall apart. It has to. All that you ever knew changes, and nothing is stable if don't build on God.
So for everyone in college, please spend whatever time you have remaining building on the Rock. Setting solid paths and groundwork for your life in the only unchanging person. Learn to cling to God with everything and never let go. That is what it is all about.
I used to say, and still believe, that every semester of college is completely different than the last. There may be some similarities, but for the most part it is a completely new life. This is one of the facets of college life. Every semester you have new classes, new schedules, new friends. You don't eat with the same people at the same time at the same place because it just doesn't work like it did the semester before. And that's fine.
My only problem with this advice fell upon graduation. Okay, it's great to know that each semester will be different, but I am entering the real world where each year is the same with minor changes. Quite the opposite of college, so why is this a good thing to learn in college??? Because the biggest change is when you leave college.
here comes my rant:
While you are in college, whether you are graduating in May or just started last fall, you must strive to make God the core. God must be the Rock in your life. All that you are must be built on the Rock that is God. In fact, I will give it as a command: Build your foundation, your core, on God. This isn't an investment option.This is a necessity. Because when you get out of college everything, EVERYTHING changes. Nothing stays the same. People change, places change, schedules change, everything changes. But God.
God never changes. He is, and was, and will be forever. He is constant in an ever changing life. He is a strong rock.
And if you build your foundation on Him, when everything around changes, your core wont. It cant. If all of your life is grounded in God, and God doesn't change, your life doesn't get turned over. Things will still change, and it will still be difficult, but you will still be strong in God.
If you don't build yourself on God, your life will fall apart. It has to. All that you ever knew changes, and nothing is stable if don't build on God.
So for everyone in college, please spend whatever time you have remaining building on the Rock. Setting solid paths and groundwork for your life in the only unchanging person. Learn to cling to God with everything and never let go. That is what it is all about.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The First Day of the Rest of my Life
I know that technically everyday is the first day or the rest of my life, but this Monday was more literally so. I began work on Monday, it started my career, which is the rest of my life. So Monday was the first day of the rest of my life.
It is so weird. I have had internships before, so the environment is not particularly new to me. But the mindset is different. At all my internships, I could say that I was leaving. If something was not great, I could say with confidence that it would soon be over. I never really had to settle in, because I would soon leave. The notion that is was temporary was always in the back (or front) of my mind.
Now, it is not temporary.
This is my job. The start of my career. The goal is to not make it short-term. Cause if it ends, that makes me jobless. There is no school to look to in a few months. There is a full-time job. And that's scary.
Also, it is hard to wrap my mind around how good God is. I don't think I ever will, but I can't even understand how good the stuff he does are. I mean, this job is a blessing in and of itself. Everyone I talk to at the company tell me that it is surprising that I got a job. How the company is just starting to hire people and that is a great time to be hired. I didn't even do anything to get the job. I can't claim it. God did it, that is for sure.
Yet, I fear. I fear that it is wrong. That the company didn't mean to hire me. That this isn't the job God wants me to have. That it is temporary. That is will not last. I fear that if I get comfortable, I will fail. And that is not true.
I need to keep reminding myself that this job is here to stay. That I am called to the workforce and God wants to use me there. That I didn't do anything to get this job, and if God wants to take it away, there is nothing that I can do to change it.
I want to share this time with you. Let you in. Allow you to join me as I figure out what it truly means to glorify God in all I do. To work heartily for the Lord, not for men. And maybe we can learn a few things out along the way.
It is so weird. I have had internships before, so the environment is not particularly new to me. But the mindset is different. At all my internships, I could say that I was leaving. If something was not great, I could say with confidence that it would soon be over. I never really had to settle in, because I would soon leave. The notion that is was temporary was always in the back (or front) of my mind.
Now, it is not temporary.
This is my job. The start of my career. The goal is to not make it short-term. Cause if it ends, that makes me jobless. There is no school to look to in a few months. There is a full-time job. And that's scary.
Also, it is hard to wrap my mind around how good God is. I don't think I ever will, but I can't even understand how good the stuff he does are. I mean, this job is a blessing in and of itself. Everyone I talk to at the company tell me that it is surprising that I got a job. How the company is just starting to hire people and that is a great time to be hired. I didn't even do anything to get the job. I can't claim it. God did it, that is for sure.
Yet, I fear. I fear that it is wrong. That the company didn't mean to hire me. That this isn't the job God wants me to have. That it is temporary. That is will not last. I fear that if I get comfortable, I will fail. And that is not true.
I need to keep reminding myself that this job is here to stay. That I am called to the workforce and God wants to use me there. That I didn't do anything to get this job, and if God wants to take it away, there is nothing that I can do to change it.
I want to share this time with you. Let you in. Allow you to join me as I figure out what it truly means to glorify God in all I do. To work heartily for the Lord, not for men. And maybe we can learn a few things out along the way.
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