THE GOOD OLE DAYS?

You ever wonder why people use this term?  For the past few years (about five I suppose) I have really disliked the use of the phrase.  It wasn't until a recent Saturday that I was listening to this mixtape called "I love the 90's" that I began to understand why we think and use this phrase.

ITS BECAUSE THE WORLD IS GETTING MORE WICKED...

Because things back in 1994 seem better, we look fondly on them. 

NOSTALGIA. -noun
1. A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time. (Among other variations)

But if we are growing in wisdom and understanding under the guidance of God, why should things be worse?  If our "yesterday" self is a long road from the blessed present we are experiencing.  You know that MIGHTY LONG WAY so many of us claim that God has brought us from. 

SO HOW CAN WE TRULY TALK ABOUT THE GOOD OLE DAYS?

Or have we not been changed?

FEAR LESS, FAITH MORE.

Do not be afraid. Why do we fear if we know for sure who's with us.  I don't know about you but I'm not going to turn down my help, i desperately need it.

Isaiah 41:10 NASB

'Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

LOOK-A-LIKES

In our society, there is too much "looking like" and not enough BEING.

You always see more religion, than REAL VISION.  People are following rules (not too well mind you) and imposing their "pious life structures," but very few people are actually following God.  At least that is how it seems.

We will rarely find unfiltered truth in mainstream media, but if you look in your community, you will find it; as well as finding those who live that truth.

Remember life is not a PR stunt, but an open account of our soul; and one day we have to give an account of it.

Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would take account of his servants.

Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.   (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

DOING WHAT WE'D RATHER NOT

So this being St. Patrick's day I wanted to know the real story behind the holiday and came across some great information.

St. Patrick was not even Irish in blood, but he had great compassion for the people of Ireland.  How you ask?

He was once a slave in Ireland, captured from England who eventually escaped.  FREEDOM! Then he ran into God and became a slave to righteousness.

God eventually prodded him to go back to Ireland to preach the truth of God to the very people, and community who once enslaved him into harsh labor.  You see, they were really the slaves....to sin.  A call he wrestled with for a while.

As a result of his compassion and bringing the Gospel to the Emerald Isles, they began to celebrate his life shortly after he went to be with the Lord. 

Over the years, politics and sin have soiled the heart of the celebration, but the truth never died away.  So when you see all the foolishness of the contemporary celebration, you will now have a better understanding of what we really should be celebrating. 

WHAT GREAT AND WONDERFUL THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.  Especially when we'd rather not do it.

Ohh I almost forgot, he used the Shamrock to teach them about the Trinity, dude was an educator of the lost.

FIGHTING THE QUATERBACK

Just inches from their own 10 yard line, there seems to be an argument in the huddle.  It appears the quaterback and center are at odds with the rest of the players.  No one else knows what is really going on, but the huddle breaks and the offense slugishly walks up to the football.   Some are nearly a yard from the line of scrimage as they get set, others stand at the scrimage nonchalantly.  The recievers are just as scatter brained, one is even flirting with the cheerleaders. 

Only the center seems to be the most focused besides the quaterback.  Determined, the QB sets behind the center: "DOWN...SET...!"

Understanding the defense's set up, the QB calls and audible. "John 832, John 832."  One of the recievers sees the wisdom of the call and an opportunity to shine, so he stops looking at the crowd and trotts down to the amended position. 

"HUT...HUT!"

The center hikes the ball and launches out like a rocket, but is overpowered by two linemen and a back.  The blitzes the QB as the offensive line barely touches the opposing team, a few just hit the ground face down.  The defense closes in on the QB, it seems helpless.  Then the unthinkable happens.

One of the offensive running backs grabs the QB's feet and the entire defensive line collapes on top of them both as the crash of helmets can be heard in the nose bleeds.

The crowd gasps, not because of the impact, but because somehow a perfect pass was caught by one of the wide recievers.  He heads for the endzone shifting into fifth gear.

He's at the fourty, the thirty.  The safety is heading swiftly to cut him off.  There is a collosion, on of the tight ends smashes the safety from a blind angle at the twenty, the crowd reacts in unison.  The reciever gets to the ten and starts pointing to the crowd, high stepping for the onlookers.

Then he is suddenly hit from behind, by one of his fellow recievers and tumbles down at the four yard line.  No score.

This seems all out of line and makes no sense, but we treat Jesus, our QUARTERBACK in the same manner more often than we think.  Yet somehow we are still going to win the Super Bowl.

CHASTEN THE CLOCK

It seems since we don't have eternity, meaning we die eventually, that we often chase the clock.  Well life IS a vapor right? Yet and still, TIME MANAGEMENT is a huge issue to those of us who want to make our time mean something, or want a lot to happen in a shorter period of time. (Often called collapsing time-frames)

Too often we chase the clock trying to "get it" & miss out on Time--the seasons of opportunities to love on & serve good.

Many have spent too much time chasing after the wrong things, instead of investing our time into those things that truely matter.  Ususally its too late when we realize that a cherished season has passed us. 

WORK WHILE IT IS DAY, BUT ALSO LOVE OTHERS WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.

WHO IS TALENTED?

In the Bible is speaks of how the kingdom business is handled. Pleas read the link provided and seek understanding on HOW God operates and expects US to conduct ourselves as good stewards.