Sunday, March 02, 2003
Only the Truth, March 2003
Stuff. I have a lot of stuff. house, kitchen utensils, furniture, cars, motorcycles, etc. Lots and lots of stuff. I mean, I have the stuff disease as bad or worse than anyone else. You know, go to the store, buy something, bring it home, hook it up, and after a short time, become dissatisfied with it. What is the point? Am I any happier because I have all this stuff? Well, I suppose there is some level of comfort that is afforded by having a place to live, and food to eat, but what I am talking about is far, far beyond that. So, I think the answer is no, I am not happier because I own all this stuff. In fact, I am pretty sure that a lot of this stuff just increases my frustration level. Take a computer for example, like the one I am typing on here, it is a wonderful high end computer purchased by my employer, and it is working fine at the moment, but if I remember right, the last two months when I got ready to send this email with my newsletter article in it, my computer crashed both times. I can hardly wait to find out if this month will make three in a row. Of course I could blame the computer manufacturer, or the software supplier, or maybe it is demonic, but it doesn't really matter. This stuff, as useful as it is sometimes, is frustrating at other times, and I still put up with it. I think what I need to do, is remember that stuff is just a tool, and God gave it to me for a reason, and therefore God owns it, and not me, so this stuff shouldn't control me, it is just a resource to be used. Our beloved motorcycles are the same way. We wash them (once in a while), we ride them, and we fix them when needed, but their value is not in our owning them, but in what God can do through us when we dedicate them to His use. I just got back from the Gypsy Massacre in Bourne, and my bike got me there, and it got me back, but while I was there, it mostly just sat at the camp site. The Bike provides sort of an entrance fee, but then God's work transfers to working though myself and others as we shine God's light walking around, and talking to people. The same thing is true, wherever we go, on a bike, in a car, or on foot. God wants to use me, He provides the entrance fee, and I only need to provide my willingness to be used when he prompts. It really isn't that hard, in fact when Jesus said; 
Stuff. I have a lot of stuff. house, kitchen utensils, furniture, cars, motorcycles, etc. Lots and lots of stuff. I mean, I have the stuff disease as bad or worse than anyone else. You know, go to the store, buy something, bring it home, hook it up, and after a short time, become dissatisfied with it. What is the point? Am I any happier because I have all this stuff? Well, I suppose there is some level of comfort that is afforded by having a place to live, and food to eat, but what I am talking about is far, far beyond that. So, I think the answer is no, I am not happier because I own all this stuff. In fact, I am pretty sure that a lot of this stuff just increases my frustration level. Take a computer for example, like the one I am typing on here, it is a wonderful high end computer purchased by my employer, and it is working fine at the moment, but if I remember right, the last two months when I got ready to send this email with my newsletter article in it, my computer crashed both times. I can hardly wait to find out if this month will make three in a row. Of course I could blame the computer manufacturer, or the software supplier, or maybe it is demonic, but it doesn't really matter. This stuff, as useful as it is sometimes, is frustrating at other times, and I still put up with it. I think what I need to do, is remember that stuff is just a tool, and God gave it to me for a reason, and therefore God owns it, and not me, so this stuff shouldn't control me, it is just a resource to be used. Our beloved motorcycles are the same way. We wash them (once in a while), we ride them, and we fix them when needed, but their value is not in our owning them, but in what God can do through us when we dedicate them to His use. I just got back from the Gypsy Massacre in Bourne, and my bike got me there, and it got me back, but while I was there, it mostly just sat at the camp site. The Bike provides sort of an entrance fee, but then God's work transfers to working though myself and others as we shine God's light walking around, and talking to people. The same thing is true, wherever we go, on a bike, in a car, or on foot. God wants to use me, He provides the entrance fee, and I only need to provide my willingness to be used when he prompts. It really isn't that hard, in fact when Jesus said;
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
He really means it. It is not you doing for Jesus, it is not me doing for Jesus, it is Only Jesus doing through us that is important.
Oh Lord, help me to hear your voice through the noise of my own thoughts.
¶ 9:30 AM
