A Huge Hill of Beans?

Does it really matter? I ask myself this question often. I probably should ask it of myself more frequently than I already do. Sometimes I 'lose it' with my kids over things that are really not that important, but for some reason, because of my own pitfalls, I get upset. Or should I say, I allow myself and choose to get upset.

 

A good example would be last night when the kids spilled the mouthwash in the bathroom for the second consecutive night. Yes, the world did not stop turning on its axis, it was just mouthwash, but for a guy like me, it set me off a little bit. Not a lot, but enough that if you were standing there watching me you would think, "Seriously Pastor Matt?".

 

Yes. Seriously. I have been known to 'lose it' over mouthwash, dog slobber, un-attended glasses of ice water, unclosed bags of cereal, and lack of urgency to think of a few. I pray and ask constantly that I would not be this way, but alas, at times it seems that I am doomed to a life of annoyances that bother only me.

 

The interesting part is that because of this glaring personality pitfall of my own, I have become very adept at pointing out this character flaw in my fellow man. Its curious how the things I hate most about myself I am so wonderfully able to see in others and condemn them for the same acts that I abhor about myself. I don't think I'm alone on this one. There are many people who have the ability to point out flaws in others. Sometimes they realize its their same flaw, other times they don't. Watch the world around you, we all do this constantly.

 

When I fly on a plane, there is always someone who gets upset about the process. I often think about going up to that person and reminding them that we are traveling at 600mph in the sky, not on covered wagon, hence, they should get a grip, get some perspective. When I'm in a checkout line I always want to tell the angry person behind me in line that if they had somewhere to be, they shouldn't have came to the store. When people get upset they have to wait in a long line at the all you can eat buffet, I want to tell them, well, you get the point.

 

This has been a interesting week for me. Its given me some more perspective into what truly matters. What I should care about and what I should not. The things I get upset about have no bearing on who I am, who I love, and who loves me. They are my issues and no one elses. Therefore, I should get a grip and quit being such a tool box.

 

Do you lose it? Do you get upset over dumb stuff? Do you allow yourself to get worked up over something that if you really thought about it quite pointless and stupid?

 

Join the club. So do I. But today, and days after this, I don't want to be this way. I don't want to 'lose it'. I have a great life. I am blessed. Getting upset over something that doesn't matter because of my own issues benefits no one.

 

I'm positive that God doesn't look down on me and get upset that I wasn't on time, the dog ran over my new grass seed, the kids were not in bed at a reasonable hour, I missed my workout, or that the iron was left sitting on a wooden table laying flat and water leaked all over it.

 

Lets have some perspective today. Lets catch ourselves before we 'lose it' and choose to not get upset. Most of what we get upset about doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

 

Be blessed

matt

ps. For my Facebookers- what pointless thing do you get upset about that you wish you didn't?

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Had a Better Day Yesterday (sizes of family included)

Yesterday was better than Tuesday. This whole following Jesus thing can be a trip at times. I think that the hardest part for me in it all is that I actually care, and it makes it painful for me at times. If you've ever wondered what being in the ministry is like, let me tell you- its often an emotional can of worms. Those things that you least expect would throw you for a loop do, and the things you thought would, sometimes don't.

 

I'm talking about that Sudanese family again. Yesterday was awesome and emotionally draining all at the same time. The response I got from that blog was overwhelming. Dozens of people came forward and wanted to help. Interestingly enough, it was the people who had a some point in their life experienced somewhat of a same situation. Its amazing how God uses the pain of our past to prompt us to love in the future, isn't it?

 

People showed up at church with food, blankets, toys for the kids. I have 3 people that are working on getting them vehicle. Other people are going to help them navigate the social services stuff. We've got a couch and some tables on the way. This has only been in the past 24 hours.

 

Why am I telling you this on the blog today? Because I think its important for all of us to realize how many people still exist that have a heart. Yes, there are still scores of evil people in this world, but I am glad that I have a church and an extended network of friends who have a heart to help people. Its a great thing. I know that this is one family of thousands who need help, but the fact that we can't help everyone doesn't mean that we should help no one.

 

There is a lot of wiggle room between everyone and no one. If I was the one person out of everyone being helped, I would be ecstatic.

 

Here's the nugget for the day- expect a little bit more of out people around you. There is still a measure of hope in this world. A contingent of people that exist that truly love God and love others. How should that change us?

 

We should be nicer, caring individuals who are not self-indulgent and completely focused on our own wants and needs. God has not placed us on this earth to only satisfy ourselves. We are confronted with opportunities to love and care for people every day. We should maximize those opportunities and discern which of them are of God, and act.

 

Be blessed- hug someone today.

 

pastor matt

 

ps. The families sizes are

Dad- L shirt, 36x32 pants,

Mom- dress size 10, 34w, 9.5 shoe,

Daughter 10-12 Youth sm, size 2 shoe,

Son, 4T Top and bottom, shoe size 10

 

If you want to donate any clothes or cash, please let me know. We're trying to get them hooked up with some state assistance, but its going to be slow moving and they have to pay rent this month. Please let me know if you can help.

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Had a Bad Day Yesterday

Yesterday was pretty emotional for me. I usually don't let things get to me, but yesterday they did. I think it was a good thing that I was upset, but it still wasn't fun. My friend Michael said to me " You feel helpless, don't you? and I know you don't like feeling that way". He's totally right. I don't like feeling helpless. Honestly, I pride myself on being able to help. I put my cape on and save the day. Its what I do. Some people call it a "superman complex". I'm not saying its right, its just the truth.

 

The cape didn't really work today, or at least it hasn't fully worked. Apparently I'm going to have to bow my pride and supplicate to a higher power on this one, because I did what I could do, and it doesn't feel like it was enough. I hate feeling this way, but I know that I need to trust God on this one. Its the only route I've got.

 

We had a family visit our church this Sunday for the first time. Nice family. Husband, wife, and two kids. They came in, and were active participants in the worship service, the kids took part in Sunday school, it was great. We love new visitors and were excited that they came to church. Afterwards, they inquired about Bible Study on Tuesday and his wife decided that she would come.

 

At Bible study, Crystal found out that the wife and kids were new to the area and had only been in Auburn since September first, so she asked them if they needed anything.

 

They needed everything. They have nothing. No car. Hardly any clothes, no furniture except beds, one pot in the kitchen and a some plates. Crystal asked if we could come by their apartment after Bible study, and we saw the place. Its nice and clean, but a 500 sq. ft. apt for a family of four isn't very big. And it was true, they had next to nothing. The fridge had ketchup and Sunny d and that was it.

 

Bless God, our church was in a financial position to bless them this month. It doesn't always happen that way, but this month it did. We were able to go today and fill their pantry, buy some stuff and get them set up. We took it to them and I can't describe how excited they were to get all the food and other items we got for them. When she saw the dish soap she was glad that she could finally wash what little dishes they had!

 

I wish I could describe how I felt the rest of the day, but I can't. Ashamed for what I have. Ungrateful for not appreciating what I have. Shameful for worrying about stuff that doesn't matter. Upset because my kids don't realize how good they have it. It was a big ol ball of emotion.

 

This family is from the Sudan. The dad has one leg and is on crutches because the other one was shot off when he wouldn't deny his Christian faith to the men who pulled him out of his home in the middle of a war. He has been here for 3 years working to bring his family, they are finally here, and his job is only able to give him 20 hours a week. He brought home 850 dollars last month, is borrowing a friends car, and wont be able to use it after November 1st.

 

Denied state assistance, denied financial support, denied any help. I want to help, but don't know exactly how to help. I want to help him navigate through the programs and systems, but I just don't know how. I'm a college educated man with control of the English language. I can't imagine what it must be like for a man from the Sudan who speaks broken English.

 

What's the point of the blog? Keeping it real. Keeping it honest. I don't know what the action point is, but if you've got any ideas, cars,couches, tables or clothes, I'd be interested in talking.

 

Here's a take away- have some perspective today. Most of the stuff we complain about is a bunch of crap that doesn't matter. I complain about my grass that doesn't grow in my sprawling 1700 sq ft. 1970s split level. I am concerned about the dog hair on my suit and running out of creamer for my coffee.

 

Get a grip Matt, seriously.

 

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Want To Look Like A Greek God?

I don't really want to look like a Greek god, but I know that's what a lot of people desire when they go to the gym. When I go to the gym, I have a few simple goals-

 

1. Go to the gym. It doesn't matter to me what I do there or how my workout goes. Simply showing up and doing something is 100% better than sitting at home and doing nothing.

 

2. Stay in the same size pants. I've been in size 40 pants for about 10 years and I don't ever want to go up from there. The motivation is to not have to go up a pants size and loose the dozen or so suits I've acquired over the years.

 

This morning, I was at the gym with my friend, and we were doing some bench press and some pull-ups. I don't really enjoy the pull up part, but the bench press part, its sort of fun. This morning I was just doing some reps with 225. I know, its not a huge amount of weight, but I'm just getting back into the bench press.

 

I've got to be honest. This morning I tried to bench 275 and I wasn't able to do it. It was close, the bar was moving very slowly, but it really wasn't a lift that anyone would say that I accomplished. When I got done, after the failure, I thought about how in 2002 I benched 365 for 2 reps. Why am I telling you this? Because every person that has done any sort of weightlifting knows this phrase- muscle memory.

 

What is muscle memory? Basically its the idea that if your muscles have performed at a certain level of fitness, they will 'remember' and be able to do it again based on past performance. It means that when you don't do an activity for an extended period of time, the next time you do it, the muscle won't have to work as long to get back to the same level of fitness. Hence, muscle memory.

 

This morning I was wishing that my muscles would have remembered how to lift 275 so I wouldn't have to had eaten the barbell.

 

But here's what I did think about while I was at the gym- how awesome it is that as much as our muscles have a memory, our past shouldn't have one. What do I mean? Well if you've ever been a part of something, or done something you weren't proud of, more than likely you've thought about it long after that time had passed. If you're anything like me, you probably felt guilt or shame about it and wished that it hadn't happened.

 

But here's the deal- if you're a follower of Jesus, a person who believes that Jesus died for the stuff in your past you shouldn't have done, you shouldn't be concerned with that past. Why? Because its in the past. Its been covered. Jesus dealt with it on the cross.

 

Do you allow the devil to torment you? Do you dwell too much on your past sins? The Bible says that God doesn't remember our sins after we ask for forgiveness, and you shouldn't either. Its a downward spiritual spiral that you don't want to be part of.

 

Let go of the past today. Don't remember it. Don't dwell on it. Don't bring it up. The greatest tool that the devil has in his arsenal is discouragement, and for some reason, he always seems to use our past sins to get at us.

 

Muscle memory = good. Sin memory = bad.

 

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Should You Pass on Grass?

When I was child, I lived in North Seattle near the neighborhood of Phinney Ridge. On the corner of 65th and Greenwood there was a house that we would pass every so often that I was thinking about this week.

 

In front of that house, in the place where people would usually plant grass seed, the owner had poured concrete and painted it green. As a child, I thought this was a really cool thing. I remember saying to myself that when I was an adult, that was what I was going to do. Have green painted concrete in front of my house instead of grass. Apparently when you're 9 years old you don't have the foresight to realize that one day you'll be married, and that your wife won't agree with something dumb like that.

 

So what do you do? You end up planting grass seed like I did last Monday. We had an area of our lawn that was a planting area, and we wanted grass there, so I had to get a 1/2 yard of dirt, put it in there, and plant some grass seed. I don't know the last time you schlepped some dirt, so let me remind you, it is not easy work. Its dirty and painful. With every shovel full, I thought about that green concrete and how much easier that would be than worrying about some grass.

 

That being the situation, all week long I've been focusing on that patch of dirt that has a bunch of grass seeds buried in it. Every morning and night I'm wetting it and watching it for any signs of growth. I know, its been 5 days, so I shouldn't be expecting much, but welcome to my world.

 

Patience isn't my strongest suit.

 

In my world, if you plant something it should start to grow before the day is over. I've done the work, set it in place, so I should see some results, right? Wrong. The way God set it up is that when you plant anything in the ground, it always takes time to see results. Its never immediate and always requires a measure of patience.

 

I don't like waiting. I don't like wondering. I want things to happen fast and my grass is no different.

 

But here's the deal- God has a way of teaching me something about myself during times such as these. I know that grass isn't earth shattering, but there is a life lesson in it for me. God is teaching me patience as I wait for the grass to grow.

 

Looking back, I can see now that more than likely that guy with the green concrete took the easy route- he didn't plant any seed. He probably wasn't willing to do the work necessary to work at getting some grass growing, or having the patience to watch it grow, and in the process might have missed out on something that God could have taught him through the process. Too bad for him.

 

Is there something in your life that you're taking the easy route and putting in painted green concrete instead of planting seed and letting God take his time? Have you gotten frustrated because things weren't happening fast enough, so now your pushing to make it your way faster?

 

Green lush grass wins over hard green concrete every time. The question is if you're willing to pay the price of patience to get that reward.

 

I am, and apparently the new owner of that house in North Seattle is too. I drove by there recently. No more concrete, now there is grass.

 

Be blessed.

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog