2) Invest wisely.  Open a Roth IRA / review financial condition.

3) Learn more about my homeland.  Take a trip to Germany.  Learn some German. Work on my ancestry tree.

4) Take a hunter safety course.

5) Work on finding new business opportunities with technology (web/mobile).

Puppy Chow Mix!

Ingredients

9 cups crispy rice cereal squares
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate; add peanut butter and mix until smooth.
Remove from heat, add cereal and stir until coated.
Pour powdered sugar into large plastic bag, add coated cereal and shake until well coated. Store in airtight container.

-brian

I must warn you – what is being shared next won’t be emotionally satisfying and it will apply to Christians only.

As a Christian we must realize that “Knowing Why” won’t make our current pain and suffering go away, but it will help us to endure the pain that we go through.

Grab a Bible and read Romans 8:18-32 and we’ll pick up right after you’re done reading that passage.

Ready?  Ok.

Rather than thinking about pain and suffering from our viewpoint, as a Christian, we have to remember that our viewpoint is rather….small.  We need to look at God’s perspective on suffering.  There’s three main themes in the passage we just read.

Theme #1 – In the beginning, sin entered the world and the world has been cursed ever since.  

(Romans 8:20-21 – For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.)

In other words – we live in a fallen world.  We live in a world of decay.  Ever since we were born, we live in decay.  Scientists are still trying to discover the “aging gene” and admit that they are still a way off. Why do we get cancer?  We live in decay (curse/sin/corruption).  Why do we die?  We live in decay (curse/sin/corruption).

Theme #2 – In the middle, your own personal suffering is a small indication of a much larger problem since sin entered the world.

(Romans 8:22-26 – For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.)

While we as Christians, believe that God has saved us through Jesus Christ, we continue to suffer in our own physical bodies because of human depravity.

Theme #3 – In the end, all things will be made new and right.

(Romans 8:27-32 - And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?)

We as Christians should realize that we need to patiently wait as God works on us.  We live in this “gotta have it now” culture. This culture runs against what God teaches.  We should keep our focus on God’s larger perspective on suffering, and not our own smaller, limited perspective.

Genesis 1:26-27

Colossians 1:16

1 Peter 2:9-10

We often look to be valued by others. Rather we should look to God for our value.

-Brian

Finally working out and swimming 1,000 yards because I got the key fob replaced – $3.00.

Spending the precious time that I have left on this earth with my beautiful wife in an evening of hanging out, going down a water slide and just being with her – Priceless.

What’s important to a believer? We want to know that God is real and that we aren’t following a religion. We need to be a Christian that hungers after hearing God.

If God tells us to do something we should do it. Immediately.

You need to share what God speaks to you about.

1 Samuel 3 – the Lord is calling Samuel. We need to be obedient to hearing God’s voice and do what God says. Active obedience.

We need to be a Christian that hungers after hearing God. We also need to be discerning. Test what you hear against God’s word.

When we hear God speak to us we should share what He speaks about when it’s not just about us. Corinthians 9:6, Matthew 13:9.

Let’s entertain the premise that there is an invisible world around us that is just as real as the visible world and impacts everything around us.

Also let’s say that there is a father of lies, named Satan.

Authority is great, especially when we’re in charge. Right? However we need to realize that with every decision that we make has it’s consequences. We have company policies that we may disagree with or workplace rules that we don’t want to follow.

But what does the Bible say about authority?

Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

So let me get this right? God has instituted the authority in my life. Paul says all authority, not just spiritual, moral or parental authority.

Ouch!

Yet Paul even goes one step further.

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

If we rebel against authority we are actually rebelling against God himself. For us to pick and choose what workplace rules we follow we are also rebelling against God.

Another way of saying this is that our attitude toward human authority is a reflection of our attitude toward God.

We have a tendency to want to separate our attitude toward human authority from our attitude toward God’s authority.

Romans 13:4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

God still works through your boss, whether or not he / she is a believer or not. It has nothing to do with religion.

On the flip side. Are you in a position of authority? Recognize that you are God’s servant / agent in their lives.

We are to submit to our authority because of conscience. Not because of rewards or punishment.

Romans 13:5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

In other words if you can cheat on a test for school and not get caught, you shouldn’t do it. It is not good for your conscience.

We should pay our taxes owed to our government.

So should we never question authority?

We have to remember that one can question authority and still submit to it. In other words you can ask questions but you still obey the laws.

What if a father tells his son to rob a bank?

When an authority abuses it’s authority, you should appeal to a higher authority while remaining under your current authority.

So what are you going to do with what you just read?