regress is easier than progress

"make progress!" was a phrase that became popular with me a couple of years ago when i was trying to encourage a couple quizzers to keep up a regular schedule of learning. the idea was to move forward, even if it was just a little bit at a time.

since that time, the concept of "progress" (and no i don't mean the pedro the lion e.p.) has been one that has come to mind often, especially because it ties in rather nicely with the tool of a growth plan. a verse that often comes to mind is 1 Timothy 4:15 which says, "practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress."

so i've been trying to get in the habit of doing little things regularly that are helpful to growth (easier said than done, because i can be rather sporadic and undisciplined). moving into my own place has also made this a little bit easier (because i am also easily distracted... and at my house i have no tv or internet).

i've made goals and tried to be more thoughtful (hmmm - i actually do more when i consciously think about it). i've had successes and i've had failures (usually stemming from neglect of thoughtfulness and the aforementioned proclivity to distraction).

one little every day bit of progress this summer was pulling weeds in the garden. maybe i'd only have 5 minutes some days... but i'd get some pulled every day. i was making progress! then i went away to camp for a week, and guess what?!? the weeds had taken over... and stronger than ever.

since that time with the weeds (and yes, the poor old lu song is applicable), i've been thinking through this simple point: it takes effort - thought and energy - to move ahead. progress is not easy. regress? well, that's easy, just stand where you are. i think back to the analogy of walking the wrong way on the airport moving walkway. "standing firm" according to paul in philippians 4:1 relates back to "pressing on" in chapter 3 (cue relient k) - standing still takes me the wrong way.

so for me, for now, i'm thinking of that turtle.... and saying to myself, "MAKE PROGRESS!" (ok, yeah, now we can go to pedro...)



lol... and thus continues my theory that no matter what the subject, i can come up with a musical reference...

prescription for spiritual constipation

so the other night at youth group, we were talking about one of my favorite passages of Scripture - Hebrews 10:19-25 (lol - i actually have soooooo many favorites, it's funny for me to use that phrase as a description), and once again we were making the wordplay joke about "let us" and "lettuce."

well, this morning as i was meditating on that passage again, i thought... "hmmmm - the analogy of roughage and it's benefits to our digestive system can really work here." so i started thinking about constipation, and what we're like when we are experiencing it... uncomfortable, bloated, pained, irritable, frustrated, worried that something's wrong with us... just feeling "not quite right," because our systems aren't functioning properly...

so what did i do? yeah, i came in here and started searching the internet for symptoms of constipation! how did people ever work through their analogies properly before the internet?!?

of course, we all know that one of the first prescriptions that we get for "keeping ourselves regular" is MORE FIBER... so, here's a little Scriptural fiber prescription:

"therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

LET US draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

LET US hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

and LET US consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

so what do we do when we have a sense that spiritually things are "just not quite right?"
1. DRAW NEAR TO GOD - the way is opened for us by Jesus' blood!
2. HOLD FAST TO HOPE - God is faithful and He is working!
3. GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS - our salvation has brought us into a community of believers, we are not meant to be isolated, but to spur and encourage one another in the faith!

... lol - and thus continues my theory that EVERYTHING in creation, God has made with a view toward us realizing His truth... digestive track - check.

good thought from the conference

apologetics is a word for defending our faith. todd burden from inbounds ministries, who is a basketball coach, was talking about how we need to be good at defense. BUT that defense should always be with a mind towards offense. in this analogy, what is our offense? THE GOSPEL. if i can defend my faith, but can't share the truth of the gospel, i have done NO GOOD! i must ALWAYS keep eternity in sight.

just sharing a sweet quote for thought...

i've been reading "the supremacy of Christ in a postmodern world." i would highly recommend it, as well as the conference messages that make up the book. here's a deep one for ya:

"it's the very nature of joy to be a spontaneous response to something that you value. joy comes to you. it rises spontaneously as witness to what you treasure. and therefore it reveals more authentically than anything else what your treasure is. 'for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' (matt. 6:21). joy is unique in its capacity to witness to what we treasure." john piper