Thankfulness

I just want to stop and thank God for being faithful. Prayers have been lifted regarding my need for compassion. God has really been working on my heart and I'm able to recognize some of the situations where...in the past I would make a snap judgment about someone who may look..less desirable or just different than me, and miss the opportunity to either minister to them or help meet a need, or just pray for them. I'm starting to take advantage of those opportunities. I'm trying to be mindful of the blessings He's given me and my family and be a better steward of those blessings. If that means using the health and strong back he's given me to push a truck down the road and get it out of harms way, instead of driving by and assuming someone else will help, then that's what I need to do. I want my instinct to be to serve, and not have to wage that war in my head before I respond out of love and compassion. I'm not sure I've stayed on topic or not, but I think I'm done for now.

Peas owt!!
Ben

“The 21st Time“

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I changed all of the presets in my work vehicle from various stations to just 2 stations. Both are the local Christian music stations. Now, don't think this is me looking down my nose at secular music. I grew up on jut about every style of music available, even some OLD country...but I just wanted to try and immerse myself in positive music. FOr the last 6 months or so, all I've been listening to at work was old school rap (early 80's to early 90's). Not exactly inspiring or thought provoking!! So I'm still in the middle of this experiment, and I'm not really even sure what I'm expecting to happen...I just know that, to change my focus, I need to breakout from "the norm"...no offense to Norm. The point is, I know God's timing is perfect, and he puts in our path, the thing we need most or what he knows we need most, and for me, it's been a song by “Monk and Neagle” called “The 21st Time “. I won't tell you the story of the song, you'll need to hunt down the video on YouTube and check it out. It's about something I've been struggling with for....well....forever....compassion.

com·pas·sion /kəmˈpæʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-pash-uhn] - a deep awareness of and sympathy for another''s suffering

When I see someone suffering, I'm compelled to help, but maybe not in the way that they need help. I'm a "fixer" by nature, so my tendency is to try and "fix" that person or fix the problem. Then, they (and I) don't have to actually deal with the underlying issues. It's not that I don't care, it's that when you get involved in people's lives....it can get messy....really messy. The struggle within me is to fight the urge to say "I'm too busy". Letting the Spirit lead me, on His time table - not mine, grinds on me cuz I'm a schedule oriented guy. To be late because I might have stopped and helped someone is noble.....but man...I'm still late!! It's a control thing. I'm a controller. Controlling. Pray for me.

I think I've strayed far enough from the point that I'll close with these words of wisdom............Just kidding....I don't have anything thought provoking to say....I'm just an A/V service tech!! But God loves me.

Peas and Carrots
Ben

The title...

Why start this blog without a simple explanation of the title....So here goes.

I've been in this small group (and I do mean small) with an awesome guy. We meet every (well, almost) Thursday evening @ 9pm, sit on his back porch, spit sunflower seeds, munch popcorn and just be honest with each other.

There is a short list of questions well go thru and answer honestly. This is not a "truth-or-dare" type thing. There's an accountability aspect to it, but it's more than that (to me). We talk about the real things that Christian men deal with on a daily/hourly/minutely basis. If you are a guy ages...hmmm....12 to 90...you know what I'm talking about. Integrity, Honesty, Fear, Pride, Purity, Witnessing, Prayer, Family...did I miss any?

So anyway, the blueprint for this comes from some book, I have no idea what it's called. The group is called a "Life Transformation Group". Thus, the title of this blog....I know, I know...sheer genius.

I've been involved for maybe 8 or 9 months now and the first...I don't know...8 months.....I was just kinda in cruise control. I had revealed some pretty shameful stuff, but hadn't really felt any "life transformation". All it really did was give me guilt!! Thursday was my Italian grandmother!! But the last 2 weeks or so, God has really gotten up in my face and prompted me to examine my life and my walk with Him.

That's all I'll reveal for now...I don't want to tell the whole story the first time!!

Peas and Carrots
Ben