Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christ-mas Contentment ( Part 2 )


....but Mary treasured up all these things & pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
"Treasured Up"....I wonder if that meant contentment @ the time ?
I wonder if she had any................................................
"IDEA" ????
Merry Christ-mas !

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Christ-mas Contentment ( Part 1 )

This has been & continues to be an interesting year.

Constant talk of economic woes , job insecurities , & overall
"Doom & Gloom" dominate the airwaves , television & the internet (thank-you Al Gore). I am looking for some relief from the onslaught of negativity.

Maybe my solution is to be found in the Nativity . What about a bail-out from the Christ - Child ? Do you think He could rescue us (me) from the "Money-Man" ? Do you think the Messiah gives a flyin' flip about our (my) financial & or material "woes" ?

These have been topics of minor discussion w/ some of my friends as well as members of the Ninth Ward Social Club. We often talk of "money matters" when we run & also during the business day (thanks C.J.!) . Usually we discuss things such as excess ( Hummers, for example) or wishing we had "this or that" payment finished etc.

However , I am thankful that the people w/ whom I am around the most are a content lot. Even yesterday , during a nice 10 mile effort w/ a couple of N.W.S.C. members , the topic of contentment reared it's head.

On the "home stretch", the former Cross-Country stand out Gwayne finds a "ten spot" less than two tenths of a mile from the finish ! I am sure this was not "luck" as some would deem it , however, I was a little "dis-contented" @ my friends fortune.

What makes you "dis-contented" ? How are you "envious" of another's position or circumstance ?

Try this "tip" as we enter the Christ-mas season........ask the "Holy One" for a "bail-out"....ask Him to give you the gift of "contentment" this season . See if He will not give you the gift of being free from envy & jealousy of other's possessions & positions & circumstances (even if it's finding $ 10.00 while running ! )

Try it.....it's OK to go ahead & open it early !!!

Phillipians 4:11; I am not saying this because I am in need , for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

** to be continued....

Saturday, December 6, 2008

"Confrontation"

I would like to thank the "Juice" ( O.J. Simpson for you "non sports" people ) for providing the basis for this edition of "The Runnin' Redneck".

I have never met O.J.personally , but I want to congratulate him for winning the "Quote of the Week" contest. This wasn't a public contest per se , but it did spark the creative "juices" ( no pun intended ! ) for me this time.
I have kept you in suspense long enough...& the winner is:

"...I thought I was confronting friends & trying to retreive my property".

Maybe O.J. should look in to ( in a few years) a career in politics. That could quite possibly be the best "spin" that I have ever heard in my relatively young life !

No problem "Juice" , when you have a little situation that requires some confrontation , just take a couple of "pals" & some guns & work it out !
Is it any wonder why God flooded the earth ?
Anyway......I digress !

What do we do when a situation arises that needs correction or confrontation ? Talk about it w/ others in a gossiping fashion ? Throw that person "under the bus" & have nothing further to do but "talk behind their back" ?

What should we do when a situation arises when we must confront ? Fortunately for us as followers of Christ , the Bible gives us instructions on how to handle those "sticky" situations .

It is , or probably will not be easy , however when followed , the situation will always work out to the benefit of all that are involved.

Per the Apostle Paul : Dear brothers & sisters , if another Christian is overcome by some sin , you who are godly should gently & humbly help that person back onto the right path. Gal.6:1

Do you think that is a more productive way ? Make no mistake however that Paul could bring some "heat" into the situation if it was warranted. " Oh really" you say ! ?

For further reading ( in case you are ever in need ) :
2 Cor.7 & 2 Cor. 11:22 - 27 & 2 Cor.13:2