1 Life Your Choice

Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don't. And if I have to enforce this discipline by veto, I will. (Applause.)

My thought, as I'm sure is the thought of many others, is - shouldn't this be our mentality all the time?  Whether in times of blessing or in times of crisis, shouldn't we be acting within the confines of a budget?  Now before you think this post is getting ready to go political, let me make clear where I am headed.  Much like our government (all parties included), most people act differently in times of blessing than they do in times of crisis.  I believe it is one of those areas of our life we have to relearn as we are being renewed (Rom. 12:1).

Because as I look through scripture, I don't see a God that bases His actions on the state of the economy or other factors that seem to play into our own, sometimes confused, decision making.  Rather, as it says in 1 Cor. 14:33 - "...for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace."  And if we are called to be like him, shouldn't there be some consistency, some peace, in our own lives even during times of crisis?  You see this principle throughout scripture, yet one of my favorites is found in Genesis 41:29-32.  Here we see Joseph interpreting a dream for the Pharaoh of Egypt, telling him to store up grain (stick to a budget) during the coming 7 years of abundance.  Why?  Because there were 7 years of famine that were to follow.

So what does all of this mean?  What does the President's speech, or Pharaoh’s dream, have to do with my life today?  The answer is simple.  What is the State of the Union in your life?  Or maybe to put it in another way, what is the State of Your Family / Relationship with God / Career / Physical health?  To answer this, we need to know where we have been, where we are, and have a clear plan of where we are going.  And this always requires us to "budget".  We all get 24 hours each day... are you investing them with intention?  Or are you carelessly squandering them away because you just happen to be in some years of abundance (nothing bad is happening in your life).  Know that crisis will come, it always does.  And the one who will be able to walk through it peacefully will be the one who has taken the time to "invest" - giving God their Heart / Soul / Mind / Strength. 

Praying for you as you prepare your "State of the Union Address",

Jonathan Absher

"1963, atop the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before 200,000 supporters to call for racial equality, in what would become the defining moment of the African-American civil rights movement -- and a turning point in human history."  In memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., take a moment to watch this historic speech.  Take a moment to dream once again!

I ran across an article yesterday by Gina Serpe and I have to admit the picture is what caught my attention.  Surely Gatorade wouldn't have made a "Haterade" refreshment line, so what is the deal? Well, as I read the article, this was actually a stunt pulled by an individual. "Kay told KUSA that with the help of an artist pal—one who had the good sense to remain anonymous—he planted 1,000 of the bottles across the state for the simple purpose of creating conversation." I think he accomplished his goal... along with mounting legal concerns and pending lawsuits with the FDA and Gatorade.

Let's talk about our HEART (Relationships) today.  Looking at the news story above, you have to ask yourself, did he really accomplish his goal and if so, at what cost? Have you ever heard of a husband or wife starting an argument with their spouse all for the goal of "starting conversation"?  I have all too often and frankly I still can't figure out that reasoning.  I mean I understand that some spouses, especially when it comes to men (sorry guys!), can have trouble communicating - but starting an argument just to get them to talk...wow.  I have also seen, and in all honesty been guilty of, those making a sarcastic comment to prove a point or to again open the "door of discussion" about a particular problem.  What has happened in both scenarios?  Someone has not thought through the ramifications of "creating conversation" at all costs.

When these types of methods are used, not only do we have to deal with the problem we were hoping to discuss - whatever has been frustrating us; but we also have created a whole new problem that we are either going to have to deal with or sweep under the rug of unresolved issues.  By not thinking it through, we have turned 1 problem into 2 (or 3...5).  So the question is, if we have an issue that we really want to discuss, how do we start a conversation that isn't going to lead us down a path we don't want to go?

Here is a simple list of questions, that can be a helpful filter, to process the conversation you are about to bring up:
1. Would there be a better time to say what I am about to say?
2. What other issues could this conversation bring up?
3. Am I ready to deal with those issues should they come up?
4. Am I at a point emotionally where this will not be construed as starting a fight but rather beginning a discussion?
5. Do I have an outcome I would like to see about this particular issue?
6. If so, what is it specifically?

What would you add to the filter? Comment and let's begin a conversation!


(To read the full article by Gina Sherpe, Click Here)