The Best of You

Posted on by
Reply

The Foo Fighters, a quality Alt Rock band from the 90s and 2000s had a song titled “Best of You”. In the song the artist asks “Is someone getting the best of you?”
Now, the context and content of the song is much different than what I will write about here, but I think this is a great question to ask. Is someone getting the best of you?
Better yet, is anyonegetting the best of you?
I don’t strictly mean this in the romantic relationship sense (although, as you will see, it applies there as well). I mean in the broader sense. In your everyday interactions, relationships big and small, are you giving your best to those around you?
Certainly we should strive for that, should we not?
The random people we see each day, they deserve our best. They deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and engagement.
The people we work with, they deserve our best. They are relying on us for leadership, mentorship, or contributions to the team goal.
Our boss or bosses/ the organization we work for, they deserve our best. They pay us to do a job, and to do it well. They deserve commitment and our whole attention while we are on their payroll.
Our friends and loved ones, they deserve our best. They sacrifice for us, extend their hearts on our behalf and invest in our development.
The face you see in the mirror each day, He or She deserves your best. You owe it to yourself to apply your full effort each day in your relationships and your life in general.
And most importantly, Our Great God, He deserves our best. He created us and redeemed us to a whole new life. He expects our best and we will be held accountable one day in this matter.
SO,
Why do we accept mediocrity so often? Why do we give less than our best?
Consider the following excuses that I have used to justify my mediocrity:
·         I am too tired
·         I am distracted
·         I don’t really like that person
·         I’ll handle it tomorrow
·         I am having a bad day
·         This is not my responsibility
I am sure I could come up with more excuses that I have used or have heard from someone else. I am sure you could put together quite a list as well. However, I am a solutions oriented person, which leads me to  the following question-
How do we fix this?
How do we create an environment where we can devote our best each day, in life and relationships?
Big question indeed but here are some simple tips I have found useful in my own pursuit. 
1)     Stop Multitasking 
Listen, I know you think that you are a multitasking machine. The reality is, you are not. Multitasking is a myth and is increasingly rejected by the scientific and business communities. Don’t believe me? Search for yourself. Studies have shown that multitasking decreases focus, concentration, and creativity. What does this mean for us and our ability to give our best? Well, if you are distracted or trying to juggle several things then you can rarely devote your full self to any one objective. 
As for relationships, I will ask this question- Have you ever tried to have a serious conversation with someone addicted to their phone? 
Yeah, aint happenin. 
Now I love my phone as much as the next person, but I strongly urge you to be present as much as possible. I understand you have to communicate with people but consider this practice- Once you take your eyes away from the phone and that particular relationship, take a moment to refocus on the people you are with. Presence and engagement are critical. 
2)     Prepare
“By failing to prepare,  you are preparing to fail.”
–  Benjamin Franklin
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Do we ever give much thought to our day? We may have a plan, but do we prepare? You see, there is a difference. Allow me to give a simple illustration from my own life.
Each morning I know what I need to do- Wake up, eat breakfast, pack lunch, read, shower, get clothes on, go to work. See, this is a plan. 
A plan tells me what needs to be done.
Preparation would be if I did the following: Set a bowl and cereal box out for breakfast, left my reading book on the coffee table, picked my clothes for the next day, and set out some of the items I need for lunch. Preparation is about readiness, it is part of the execution.
So often we are limited by our lack of preparation. Rarely do we prepare to do our best. What would that even look like anyway? Well, we have to consider preparation as an idea much broader than the physical things. Consider mental, emotional, and spiritual preparation as well
.
 
3)      Today
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33
“Make each day your masterpiece”
– John Wooden
“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday, and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.”
– Dalai Lama
This is a daily decision. Today is the only day you can influence directly. We waste our time worrying about the future and feeling guilty about the past. If you have a rough day, shake it off and don’t let it ruin the next day. 
4)      Shift Focus Upward and Outward 
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we have to shift our focus. We must shift our focus off of ourselves, upward to Christ, and then outward to others.
Notice how all of my excuses started with I. It was all about me. Giving your best requires sacrifice.  You cannot give your best if you are selfish, its just not possible. Heck, you rarely give anything if you are selfish. 
This kind of commitment is exhausting, which is a good thing. If you are constantly pouring yourself out into meaningful endeavors (service, people, occupation, etc), then of course you are going to be exhausted!
In closing, I encourage you to evaluate your life, how you spend your time and energy. 
Be honest with yourself and ask the question: 
Have I given my best today?

His Promises

Posted on by
Reply

A short while back a dear friend asked me a couple of very challenging questions:
How did you trust God even when you knew your Mom may not live? How did you trust Him when what you were praying for and hoping for wasn’t happening?

I went back to that time and reflected on my experience: praying for healing and ultimately watching my Mom succumb to cancer. It was awful. Anyone who has experienced loss knows this. We hope and pray for physical healing and comfort, but so often it doesn’t happen.

So what was my response?  I trusted His promises.
You see, Jesus makes some pretty serious promises to us.
Consider the following:

Trouble and Triumph
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33b
Eternal Presence
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:20b
Destination
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:3

Jesus promises that we will face troubles in this world. We will endure pain, hardship, and loss. However… in the midst of these trials, we will have His presence and the knowledge that He is preparing a place for us.

Don’t miss this though: it is not enough to trust His promises. We miss the point if we focus on the promises and hold them above the One delivering the promises. The truth is, I trust in His promises because I trust in Him.

So where does that leave us? I pray it brings you joy and peace, but not complacency. Our trust in Him and His promises needs to be made known to others.

Committed.

Posted on by
Reply

It has been a while since I have posted here. Nearly 5 months it looks like. I love to write but for some reason I have not carved out time to do so, but that has changed recently.

Unfortunately, as soon as it changed, my primary computer was stolen in a troubling event (more on that later).

I am committed to writing. This will be evident in the coming weeks, months, and (hopefully) years. This blog will be my outlet for the content that I wish to share.

I encourage you to post feedback comments or engage in conversation with me if you feel lead to do so.

Thank you,

B

A Fresh Perspective on Singleness

Posted on by
Reply
It has been a while since I have published a blog. In fact, I am interrupting a series that I have been working on to post this blog. (The series on Universal Questions will return soon, so check it out!)

My life has settled down a little bit after a move to Orlando and beginning a new career. I figured now was a good time to get back to blogging regularly, so I am hopeful that I will be able to do that now.

The last few days I have given a lot of thought to this topic, the topic of Singleness. I considered keeping these thoughts private, but I feel that maybe they could help someone. My intent is to be as open and transparent as possible, because I feel that only then can I capture what is on my heart.

So here it goes-

I am a single male. I am reminded of this daily. Reminders come in all forms and if you are single and reading this, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Relationships, engagements, weddings, etc. I am in the midst of the age where this is happening to most (but what seems like ALL) of my friends.
And honestly, its tough. It really is. But more on that later. 

So today when pondering my singleness, I sat down and really examined my heart. I prayed and asked for some clarity. I questioned my thoughts and emotions.

So as I said, being single is tough sometimes. But why is that? What causes the emotions that lead us to want to be with someone? Where does the longing come from?
I mean, of course I want to have my own family one day, but isn’t that a really shallow perspective when you think about it? In many ways, it is inherently selfish. And selfishness is the antithesis of a good motive.

With this in mind, where do we begin?

I submit the following thoughts for you to ponder:

Whole in Christ
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
 Colossians 2:9-10
As Christians, our ultimate fulfillment comes from a relationship with Christ. We look around for the person that God has for us, instead of looking up to Him. He is enough. He is sufficient. We would be wise to pursue Him. 
Relationships as an Idol
 
I discovered today that an idol I had in my life was the picture I have of relationships and marriage. Its been years since I have dated anyone due to the nature of my last relationship. Recently the longing for a relationship has returned. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing. Remember, it is not good for man to be alone. I am not demeaning marriage or relationships. They are a good thing. But we must make sure that they are not the only thing.
Follow the Example of Christ
 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1

Consider Christ. We are called to be imitators of Christ. What example did He set for us? Complete devotion to the will of the Father. That is where our focus must be as well. Christ came to the earth on mission. He came for the lost. And as His Redeemed, that is our mission too.
Our Role as the Bride 
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 
Ephesians 5: 25-27

As the Church, we are the Bride of Christ. Christ is constantly sanctifying us. Why would we do anything to harm this process? Again, I am not saying that relationships and marriage harm the sanctification process. What I am saying is that sitting idly by, just longing for a wife or husband, does hinder the sanctification process. Be patient. Seek Him. 
I want you to be encouraged by this perspective. This season of life is valuable. Don’t waste it.

Universal Questions: Why Am I Here?

Posted on by
Reply

Why Am I Here?

A question of meaning.
Purpose. 

A search of this question yielded the following results

Obviously people are seeking answers to this question

Once again, all major worldviews seek to answer this question.
Life either has meaning, or it doesn’t. Plain and simple.

But what is the Biblical perspective on this question?
You may be surprised by the simplicity of the answer, but here it goes anyway:

We are here to have a relationship with God. To love and be loved by Him. 

This is made clear throughout Scripture and it is why Jesus is so important. Jesus offers restoration of this relationship between God and man.

Take a look

Genesis 2 and 3
Too long to quote here, but a couple quick observations

  • God created Adam and Eve and everything was good. 
  • God was in their presence and man was capable of having a right relationship with God.
  • Sin enters the world and separates God from man preventing a right relationship with God.
 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 
This list is by no means exhaustive. The Bible has much to say about the relationship between God and man. Much more than I have included in this blog. This point remains: Our purpose in life is to have a loving relationship with God and our meaning is based solely on that relationship.