Dawkins Delusion

I thought this was spot on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QERyh9YYEis&feature=PlayList&p=EA2D863160AFCFDE&index=13

No Choice?!

I am discovering that in spite of me reorganizing my life to line up with my final 30 days there are a number of things that are out of my control.  Certainly the way people treat me or respond to me is out of my control.  I also realized that there are a number of my choices that are not really a choice at all.  There are things that I have to do during my final 30 days.  If I do not do these things I will limit my choices and goals in other areas of my life.  I have to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, drive the speed limit, brush my teeth and a number of other things.  You could argue that some of these things I don't have to do but as I said before, if I do not do these things they will limit my freedom in other areas of life.  I spent some time today reflecting on God's boundaries for my life.  When God says to do one thing in His Word or to avoid another He is actually providing me a path that leads to the MOST FREEDOM in my life.  

God's Word says If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  John 8:31b-32 (NIV)

We are often resistant to the "requirements" that life, someone else and often God puts in our life.  The truth is that if we realize that these things ADD to even our final days will discover the LIFE that God has for us EACH DAY.

Distractions

Well it didn't take long to become completely distracted on my final 30 day mission. If only I could be a little more like my wife. Naomi has the ability to be completely focused on one and only thing. Everything else sacrifices and is put off to fuel that single minded mentality. I would ascribe it on a positive note much like a pregnant woman. The baby inside will demand everything it needs and can often have harmful effects on the mother as a result. God protects that child in the woman by demanding that the body prioritizes all its resources to help it grow healthy. This can also be seen in the evils of some diseases and viruses. They actually demand resources and a prioritization to help them grow and destroy their host. I can see so many examples of how focus and clarity bring an energy and passion to accomplish what needs to be done. So why can't I focus my mind for 16 hours in a day? I got so distracted yesterday. They were little things that took over the whole. I looked back on yesterday and I had to say to myself,

"That was one of my last days!? What do I have to show for it?"

The Bible give us a clear challenge with focusing our thoughts and thereby focusing our lives.

2 Cor 10:55 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.(NIV)

Take captive? We go after our thoughts and make them obey. Wow. How is this possible? My mind so often wonders. I understand books have been written on the subject. This 30 days really brings some things into focus. It brings what is important to focus and what is not. It determines the absolutely essesiantal that can't be put aside and the disease of distractions that have to be cut out and destroyed. It only took a few days to become almost completely distracted - to forget - to waste time - to become weary and tell myself to take a break. It reminds us that time is running out and I just lost 1 more day that I can't get back.

Disappointed

Yesterday was not what I had hoped for or imagined it could be. The beginning of my last 30 days on earth started with the painful sound of the alarm clock. I was determined to start the day with my Bible along with the several other books I am currently reading. I wanted to exercise to feel that sense of energy that comes from accomplishment. If this is my last 30 days why am I struggling to go after all these final goals for my life. Then it hit me. There are 2 problems with this 30 day journey that I'm going to have to overcome quickly if I am going to get anything out of it. Problem number 1: No one cares. If this was my last 30 days I would imagine SOMEONE would care. I might be getting phone calls, emails, visits from friends, cards in the mail all trying to communicate tearful goodbyes. Nope - didn't happen. Why is this an important to overcome either in reality or in the 30 day experiment? Well if it was really my last 30 days and I did receive all those tearful goodbyes I might be distracted into thinking my life focus is "me". I might spend several hours, or a day or possibly a week depending on how self indulgent I am, focusing on what my life had accomplished and become satisfied with all I had done. In the 30 day experiment I feel a sense of sorrow that seemingly no one cares. This however I have discovered refocuses me that my final 30 days should not be wasted on the "self centered" pride in all the things "I've done" but rather it should be a "selfless" mindset of all I have yet to do for others. Problem number 2: I've already clued you in on the 2Nd problem with the 30 day experiment that I realized yesterday morning and ever increasingly throughout the day. The second problem is that "it is not real". If it were REALLY my last 30 days I would do many things DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT. I definitely would not have gone to my Monday morning meeting (no offense to my coworkers). I certainly would not have gone to volleyball. I know for certain I would have pulled my boys out of school for the next 30 days and made it my primary mission to love, teach, and disciple them. I could think of nothing else more important in my final 30 days that giving everything I had left to my family and modeling Christ for them. These 2 epiphanies however have changed today (day 2 - 29 days left) for me. They have focused my values, tasks and emotions into great clarity. I know what I should adjust and make changes to accommodate these priorities. I am a little disappointed that you didn't call or write but I am thankful that you didn't at the same time. It has allowed me to not become distracted and self centered. I am also thankful for the things in my day yesterday that choked out what I really wanted to do. It was that tension that really helped my discover what I really wanted in my last 30 days.

One Month to Live - Day 1 - Begin with the End

Beginning anything new is difficult. The problem with most beginnings is we neglect to think through what it will cost to follow through. It is not simply enough to have passion in life there must also be wisdom. (Luke 14:28-30) So let me ask you as you begin the next 30 days like they were your last 30 days to consider how you want to end. Considering the ending will help you trace your way back to the beginning.

"Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives." - Alan Sachs

I am a big fan of history. When we had expanded cable I could easily watch the History Channel, A&E or the Discovery Channel and be lost in the stories. I find it so interesting how when someone looks back on a life they can see the passions that were pursued, the sacrifices that were made, and the relationships that were prioritized. How would you want to summarize your life? What would you want to be remembered for? During the next 30 days, if you could leave your mark, what message you like to send out as a memorial for your life? Begin with the End in mind.

One Month To Live - Introduction

What if you only had 1 month left to live? What would you do differently? How would you spend your resources? What legacy would you want to leave behind? How would you go about doing that? Would you plan your days or just let them happen? What regrets would you have? What things would you want to change that are out of your control? What picture / metaphor best describes your life right now? What are you waiting for?
The truth for most of us is that we would live radically different lives if we knew for certain that we have 30 days left. We will spend the next 30 days journing together to see what needs to change in our lives maximize the days we've been given.
What are your thoughts?

Don't let the title fool you

Conversations with God by Neale D. Walsch

The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the 'voice of God'. However, the 'answers' that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God.

For instance (and I paraphrase),
1) When a girl asks the question 'Why am I a lesbian?' His answer (as the voice of God is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and 'celebrate' her differences.

2) Another girls poses the question 'I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?' His reply is, 'Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong.'

3) Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply 'I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is ''judge not lest ye be judged.'

Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.

Odis R. Phillips