Which choice will it be

A friend outlined the first part of Charles Colson's book, "How Now Should we Live".

My thoughts:

There is a quote where he says: "Only love changes human behavior...Only love can overcome sinful self-centeredness."

We must understand opposing views as total life systems and then "take our stand in a life system of equally comprehensive and far-reaching power."


Looks like a good book to review only if there is a corresponding application of the words we read. Two choices stare at me.

(1) We read the Word, books and then "take our stand."

(2) We stay home and watch TV and do whatever else we want to.

Going to church and yet having no change in my daily life is just not working anymore. It’s a charade. How is going to church and doing nothing different from me getting on the web and surfing for porn? Help me out with this one. I'm not saying I must see results. What I think I see is the need to be Abraham and tell God, "Yes, I will go build an altar and place my son on it." If we think about it long enough we have fear. Abraham just did it. He had no reason to not trust God. Yet, I continue to submit to fear.

Here's the message: If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? - I John 3:17

Romans 7:19-20 (NASB)

19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

How much longer do I continue to throw down excuses for not following Matthew 28:19-20?

READ IT

While reading through an article today in one of my business journals associated with my job, I came across something of interest.

This is from ICMA Public Management Magazine, September 2007, page 22.

"There's too much evidence. With hundreds of English-languauge magazines and journals devoted to business and management issues, dozens of business newspapers, roughly 30,000 business books in print and thousands more being published every year, and the Web-based outlets for business knowledge continuing to expand (ranging from online versions of Fortune and the Wall Street Journal to specialized sites like hr.com and Gantthead.com), it is fair to say that there is simply too much information for any manager to consume."

Choices abound. Everywhere you turn, whether you are looking or not, there are multiple information points that are assaulting you.

Think about it.

With the internet now, there is a plethora of information. Very little is new. Most is recycled. This blog that you are reading is mostly made up of recycled information. It is my current perspective on what I am experiencing at this moment in time. And it is mostly retrospective.

As a parent and observer of life, I seek to train my children. They often hear from me that "when i was a kid, things were much simpler" and the funny thing is, I heard these same ramblings from my parents.

So, what's the point Chris?

The point is that in this world in which we live, I think we need to be careful about the information that enters into our being. I know I'm selective. We all are. We all make choices constantly throughout our day. For a very tiny group of you, you are reading this blog hoping that something that is said will result in you being entertained, educated, challenged, or even encouraged.

Maybe it will happen. Maybe it won't.

I think about two verses from a book I think we can all agree can always impact each of us.

Psalm 119:105,

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

I Timothy 4:7,

"Discpline yourself (or train yourself) for the purpose of godliness."

I can read those verses and be entertained, educated, challenged and encouraged.

So, why don't I spend my reading time reading His Word?