Thanksgiving Thought

Good Turkey Morning!

So I have been working stocking shelves at Menards for like $8.00 an hour for the last month. It starts at 6am and is not ideally what I would like to be doing but I think it is about more than the money (that often seems to be the case when we do something we don't really want to do).

I got this job because I needed to make a little extra cash while I try to figure out what I want to do in the future. I didn't really want to get up at 5am every morning.... I like to sleep. But I tired to put a positive spin on it for my own peace of mind; to either psych myself up (or out). So I went in thinking: "this could be ok, I will meet people... meet some new friends, maybe God even has a bigger purpose of me being there... maybe it is so I can influence people and show them Christ. "

Well after about a month, I do have some new friends. But I haven't had any "life changing conversations" with anyone and don't think that will be happening anytime soon. Which is fine. Maybe, at some point I will be able to talk to people about God or church or whatever but I found out there might be more to me working at that job then... how do they say it in Chrisianese.... " a divine appointment". I learned a few things after examining myself these last few weeks.

#1. There are a lot of people in Menards that need Jesus but I need to let God figure out if someone needs to talk about God. (Not that I have attempted to witness to anyone yet). I went into Menards deciding that there was probably someone that I would talk to about Jesus or church or Christianity but so far that is not the case and ultimately, right now, not important. I went in to the situation thinking that I could possibly be an influence on others lives (which is funny cause I tend to steer clear of always trying to witness to everyone...). Now don't get me wrong, I do think that I can show people Christ in me, hopefully just by being me, but I don't have to go in expecting a to find "divine appointment".

#2. I went to college and have a degree and my degree was not in stocking shelves for $8 an hour. That is the attitude I had before I got the job and honestly I still feel that way sometimes today. But I have slowly begun to realize that you are not defined by what you do as a job (or at least you don't have to be). Also I found out that there are other people who work at Menards that also have college degrees. So I have been humbled by having to take a job I felt "above" and also had the reminder that yes, other people have gone to college and work at Menards.

#3. I think the biggest reason (or maybe the biggest benefit) of me working at Menards is that in a way it has jump started my prayer time. I was struggling to take the time I knew I needed to with God and getting up early has been seemingly a blessing. I sometimes pray a bit when I am getting ready for work in the morning but most of the time I try to pray while stocking (before anyone else comes in the store). I am usually in my department all alone at first so it is a good time to think and pray.... it is amazing what that does for me.

So I guess that is it. Sometimes I have to examine myself and my attitude and just realize that God desires to just have more time with me. Nothing extravagant, not super hero Josh, just needed time between me and God.

What's the Deal?

Alright my friend told to to start blogging so here it goes. Note: This will be almost always be a random free flow.


So here is my question/frustration: Ok, for some reason people my age (and younger and older) who are Christians like to keep pushing the limits of what they are allowed to do. Let me rephrase that... I have friends who are Christians who commonly like getting drunk, having premarital sex, and joking about porn... they like generally doing whatever they feel like doing at that moment. Whatever feels good right?

I guess just don't get how those activities and Christianity mix. (I sound like a stuffy old man but I just don't get it). I don't get how you can be satisfied doing everything you want to do on one hand and then attempting to live a Christ centered life on the other.

Let me say....I don't want to sound judgmental... In fact, I hesitate to write this blog due to the fact that I myself am unsure of how you mix being "in the world but not of it".

Now some people will say that doing whatever you want to at the time (drinking or whatever) is a personal decision (which I used to fully believe was true) but I am beginning to disagree. And most of my disagreement is based on observation. It just seems that friend after friend who try to skate the very thin line between following Christ and living life the way they want to (and following what many of their friends do) just doesn't connect. I think that a lot of those friends go into the situation thinking.. "well its not that big of deal... I don't want to be a stiff, unapproachable Christian... a few drinks are no big deal.... people drank in the Bible, right? Or we were just looking at the swimsuit issue...its no biggy...its not like it is porn". And you know what I see happening to those friends they get stuck in that life... drinking, looking at porn... whatever the vice may be. I see it kind of like this. One of my friends started smoking when he was 23 (what a stupid age to start, huh?). Anyways, he was super stressed out and a friend said" hey, this will help calm you down".... and you know what it did work... it worked quite well in fact. Now he assured me that there would be no problem kicking the habit... In fact, he assured me it wouldn't be a habit.. He said if he did smoke it wouldn't be for long and that it would be no big deal to stop.. well today -2 years later- he smokes like a chimney.... more than some of the friends who got him started. He is now no different than the guy who has been smoking for 20 years (except his lungs are only beginning to become black).

Now that example has nothing to do with smoking and everything to do with how easy it is to get stuck in a world were you are no different than the guy next to you.

I would be the last person to be mad at a person because they smoke or drink (as long as it is not in excess or underage)... but come on; what is the difference between you and the next guy if you are passed out on the floor right next to the guy who doesn't claim to be a Christian. Is the only difference that the Christian just happens to get a free (grace paved) trip to heaven and the other "poor chump" next to him is might end up in hell? One of my friends once said "hey, those people need Christian influences in there lives". I agree with that statement.... but you, my friend, are not even attempting to influence the people around you.

So my question to all Christians who commonly like to "sow your wild oats". What is Jesus to you? Is Jesus the guy you heard a bunch about from your parents and your church growing up? Is there any personal discovery in there or is it just Sunday school answers mixed with a few brief experiences from a youth retreat or mission trip. Ok, yes, Jesus is your savior. What else is he? Is there more? What does Christianity matter? What is church. Church = a fun time to see friends and hear some music and a boring message that you won't pay attention to? What is it? What is the point of claiming you are a Christian. Christian.... Do you know what that means? Do I know what that means? I don't think I fully do. But I just am tired of the "barely in the boat" concept people like to have. I get the attitude..."I will do everything I want to and if any other Christians say anything to me about it I will blow them off or assume they are judgmental Christians."

I mean come on... if I was Jesus I would want to give everyone a flying kick to the face for claiming to know me and then doing much of the opposite of what I taught. Just to note: If I was Jesus. A) Humankind would all be in rough shape B) I would also want to give myself (Josh) a flying jump kick to the head for all the stupid things I do.

I guess understand the rebellious stage thing... yeah... I guess that excuse works (if that is the only lame "card" you have to play). Or another excuse I hear is "we all make mistakes and no one is perfect" (another lame "card" but I do agree that we are all in essence pretty stupid at times). And the last excuse I hear is that "God has given us grace so we are forgiven" (that is the crappest excuse of all). We all need God's grace but I would think that God gets pretty pissed when we push him as far as possible. When we live selfishly and forget about Jesus and what he actually means. Honestly, I don't think Jesus means that much to a lot of Christians. He didn't mean much to me for most of my life. I knew what I was supposed to say he meant. I knew what my parents said he meant. But Christianity wasn't much to me except a word and Jesus wasn't much to me except what I learned growing up.

So I ask you: Why do you push the limits? What do you think God thinks about it all? Do you actually care? If so, do you show that you actually care?

I guess I have just started to question why I believe what I believe. And if I believe the Bible to be true. Jesus to have died on the cross for me and with me.... then I don't want to ride the fence and live a half ass form of Christianity... it is just... well.... unappealing. I think that in a lot of ways Christians are just supposed to be a bit different.