Survival vs. Abundance

Real quick…I’m getting tired of just surviving.  Why is there only a little oil and a little flour in the bottom of my jars?  Why can’t I have full jars just once?  It seems to me that God blesses people in different ways and to different degrees.  You can bring up the workers who got hired in the beginning of the day getting paid the same as the ones at the end of the day all you want.  I realize this sounds a little out of line, but I blog to share my thoughts-so here they are.  I guarantee you that Moses wasn’t always happy about his 40 years in the desert.  I haven’t been in the desert for 40 years, but some days it feels like it.  I’m getting tired of the struggle.  I’m sure some of you relate to this.  Some days it’s harder than others.  I’m starting off 2008 hard.  Most other years have been the same way.  God has never let me go hungry.  I’m just asking for a little more.  Perhaps that’s selfish or childish.  Just being honest.

Another Bible verse I have trouble with.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph 4:2) I cannot tell you how many times I have failed to do this.  However, I can probably tell you the number of times someone else has failed to do this with me.  I have a tendency to hold on to hurts caused by others.  You may say it’s natural, but the truth is that the core of Christianity is reconcilliation. Either I have to apologize or forgive.  The burden always rests on my shoulders.  That pisses me off.  I constantly feel like I have to follow the rules while everyone else does whatever they want. 

In reality, we act the way we do for any number of reasons (anger and fear immediately come to mind).  I don’t mean to be a jerk-it just happens.  The growth in me, is that I’ve begun to recognize my jerkhood, and in some cases, make amends.  A point I want to make here is that I am, as are all of us, a work in progress.  “The paint is still wet.”  If we did it perfectly, we wouldn’t need Jesus. 

At this moment in my life, the key word of this verse is love.  At the end of his life, John the Beloved’s sermons consisted of three sentences:  “God loves you.  I love you.  Love one another.”  I figure I have about 45 more years left (less, if you factor in my treadmill incident this week.)  Perhaps by the end of that time span, I will have some grasp of love. 

I don’t care if my president is pro-life.

As we approach the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I want to make a quick comment.  I’m tired of Christians saying they’re praying for a Christian, pro-life person to be elected president.  I don’t care if my president is pro-life.  Yes, it would be nice if he or she shared my views on everything, but the truth is I want someone elected who will appoint constructionist judges to the Supreme Court.  Roe v. Wade is the prime example of the third branch of our government legislating.  I simply want to exercise my right to vote on this issue.  Both sides think they’re right.  So, let’s put it to a vote.  States where the majority wants abortions, can vote that way.  States where the majority doesn’t want them, can vote their way as well.  The bottom line here is not the philosophical or moral fiber of our president, but the election of a person who understands that Roe v. Wade is a bad decision that needs to be overturned.  Let the issue be decided by the people.