Using Your Strength

Romans 15:1&2 has been on my mind for the past few days. You can click here to read it.

These verses swim completely against the current of the Darwinian river that flows through our culture, but then again, so does everything that Christ challenges us to do.

Paul wrote these words to the Church in Rome. Notice that, not to the world, but to the church. He did so because they were facing real problems of judging those who were weaker then they were - weaker in the faith, weaker emotionally, weaker in their personalities It's almost as if Paul realized how easily the "survival of the fittest" attitude can creep into the believers life and into the culture of the church.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I often fall into the sin of lording my strength over those who aren't as quick, sharp, or cunning as I am. Of course, when I come in contact with those who are quicker, sharper, and more cunning than I (which is more often than I'd like to admit), and Lord it over me, I'm quick to duck and run as quickly as possible.

Here's what I think is playing out here. In life, there will always be people who are weaker than you are, and at the same time stronger than you are. This creates a real problem, because every time someone uses their strength to beat down a weaker person, in order for that weaker person to feel stronger, they in turn find someone weaker to beat down on so they can build themselves back up. What a rat race, and one that Paul realized was detrimental to the faith.

His solution was to remind us of the reason for our strength, which is to build people up, to use our strength to make them stronger, healthier, and better in the long run.

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Fatal Distractions

I've been thinking about the fender benders that I have had throughout the years, and I have realized that everyone was a result of being distracted by something that was going on around me.

One in particular stands out to me. It happened when we lived in West Memphis, Arkansas. We were taking our children to a birthday party and for some unseen reason traffic was backed up. As we neared the source of the problem, my wife called out, "Steve, look at the blood all over that guys face!" Well, needless to say that's all it took. I looked...the lady in front of me stopped...I didn't. My car was mangled, my wife's head took out the windshield, and I got a pretty steep fine (I also added another story to my wife's ever growing arsenal about me that she tells at every opportunity she can).

These kind of incidents represent what unhealthy distractions can do to us in life. First, they serve to take our focus off the journey and destination that is vitally important to pay attention to. Second, they put us at a level of danger that is not healthy for you or for those around you. And third, the damage they cause can serve to side line you longer than you desire.

Over the years, some of the potentially fatal disasters in my own life have been...

Wrong relationships. The Bible is right when it says that "bad company corrupts good character." I find that the quality of my relationships either push me towards my destination or gets me stranded on the side of the road.

An unhealthy desire for success. Don't get me wrong, I think success is great and I'm all about shooting for the stars and living a life of vision, but sometimes that drive can be unhealthy especially if I allow it to push me to neglect the more important things in life, like family.

Idleness. This is probably one of the greatest danger points for me. When I allow myself to be idle I open myself to temptations that I don't need or want. The old saying, "idleness is the devil's workshop" is very true.

What are the fatal distractions that have potential in your life? Evaluating your life and asking these kind of questions is vital to steering clear of the things that can destroy you.

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Running On Empty

My wife's brother and his family were in Florida last week taking some vacation. On the eve of their return home, we all decided to meet at Brusters for ice cream. As I rounded the corner to our destination, my car started to sputter...out of gas.

This is the third time I've done this in the past 6 months. The first time was on a trip from PA to Florida. It happened right before our move to Sarasota. My gas light came on, but in my desire to make the best time, I pushed it a little too far. I ran out of gas 1 mile from the exit of South of the Border in S. Carolina. There we were, the towering sombrero that usually beckons road weary travelers now seemed to be taunting us in the distance.

The second time, was only a few weeks ago on my way to work. Once again my gas light was on and once again I pushed it too far, making me and my friend Rei an hour late for work.

It's amazing because every time that little "check gages" light comes on telling me I'm running low, my mind goes into excuse mode and I start thinking like this; "I can make it a few more miles...the manual says I have 30 miles left when the light goes on and I'm sure I've only gone 10."

I'm not sure why I push the envelope when it comes to my on going struggle with my gas gage, however, here's a few reasons as to why this could be...

1. I'm very competitive...and for some reason this spirit kicks in when that little gas light come on. It's almost as if it's daring me to go a little further.

2. I'm a risk taker and I enjoy pushing the envelope in different areas of my life...why should this be any different?

Here's what I'm learning...these two personality traits have served me well in many areas of my life. They have helped me reach my personal goals, given me a drive and a passion for success, and in some ways have broadened my outlook on life itself. Because of this, I embrace them as God given strengths to aid me in accomplishing His will for my life.

On the flip side, they have also served to side line me on the road of life on many occasion, which has always cost me more and kept me longer than I ever intended. I've learned over the years that every strength I have been given, also has the ability to become my greatest weakness.

I've heard it said that in the foundation of every great thing lies the seeds of it's own destruction...I believe that to be true.

On one last note, because of my troubles, I have taken the steps to build in safe guard to being stranded when I run out of gas...AAA. So the other night when I ran out, I called them...then I had a big ice cream cone and waited for their arrival. After all, I paid for their services and I will feel personally cheated if at the end of the year I didn't get my money's worth.

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