Technology is a wonderful tool for God

There are a million useless things on the Internet that are there to demand our attention as soon as we click our browser these days. I find myself getting caught up in people and things that I really couldn't give a crap about. Usually it's who got arrested in Hollywood or who is "dating" who. It's pop culture, the way of the world, entertainment, whatever you wanna call it, but the truth is: It's here today and gone tomorrow. And I'm not even talking about the Snookies or the Kardashians of the world....useless. I'm talking about people with "talent". A few years back Britney Spears was all the rage, today she's a punchline. Miley Cyrus will be there in a few years, and Justin...whatever- his-name-is will be too. That's why it's called "pop" culture. It's what's popular now. Not yesterday or tomorrow..... But it's here today, gone later today.

What is cool about the Internet part of this culture is that it makes even important things more accessible. Like the Bible. Or a sermon. Things that count for something can be only a click away just like as Kate's latest hair extensions. Case in point: I clicked "like" on Facebook the other day and was granted access to God's word, just like that. People for thousands of years were grateful just to have a preacher in town! On Twitter, I have all the sports, news, music and so forth, but I also have a Christian news or ministry site that I get updates from too. It's just SO easy. And the really cool think I got to thinking about while setting this stuff up is: God calls us to read His word daily. Well this is easy for someone lazy like me. ( I shouldn't say lazy, I just have a short attention span) Just by "liking" the Bible on Facebook, I have Scripture popping up right in front of me every day! More than once! In fact, I think it is better to take a few verses and read them, then go back and read them again and let them sink in. Reflect on them and let them impact me.

Now I learned from pastors who could break down each word and give it context and meaning. Many of them do this. I also know that there are many people who start with a book and read it all in few days. I have NOTHING against any of that, but even if I have Bible verses Tweeted to me, aren't I living in God's will regarding that part of my life? Well....it depends. Can I take that one line of or one verse and really reflect or meditate on it. Can I recognize it's meaning for my life? If I can honestly say "yes", then I believe I am following what God wants me to do in the moment. If I end up making a habit out of it, so much the better.

Now that reading I do might lead me to look something up in my Bible, or read a specific book, or listen to a song. BANG! I've already expanded on that will. It's all part of the journey He wants to take me on. And you too! Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. That isn't the point. The God of the Bible, the only true God, knows me inside and out. He knows how He wants to speak to me. He says His yoke is light. Meaning it shouldn't be a chore to listen and obey and that brings about trust!

Don't conform to the way of this world! Don't grade yourself by "performance" and think God grades you that way. Just be WILLING. Just be willing to turn to Him. Be willing to pray. Be willing to ask. The words you use are not as important as your heart! God isn't going to say: "Well he didn't read enough today" or "She didn't pray that the way the people did when the Bible was written. She got it all wrong". Nope. That's us doing that, not God. And it keeps us from growing closer to Him.

Please stop thinking you have to do it the way grandpa taught you. Or Aunt Meg, or whoever. Make sure the sites you use reference the Holy Bible as it is, not as somebody else would have it. No less than the Bible, no more than the Bible. You will see your mind and then your heart change at the speed you and the Lord create together.

prayers!

A few words regarding Dontrelle Willis

The Facts-
1.I've never met the man. 2. I'm a D-Backs fan, but p.o.'ed at the team/management the last few years. 3. This isn't about baseball.

The Thoughts-
For most of my life I've known what it's like to NOT be able to do something that everyone else could to do. (Fill in the blank or pick something and insert here.) I've had my livelihood threatened by my anxiety disorder. I've had times where driving my car to work was a nightmare, if I made it at all. I've had my pride and self-respect beaten out of me by having to call and ask for a ride when there was really "nothing wrong with me". I've got up and walked out of movies and restaurants more times than I care to count. I've had to turn around and walk out of grocery stores with the cart half full. Stand in line at the bank wondering if I stay still long enough to cash my check.

But I've never had to stand on a mound of dirt, in front of thousands of people, and earn a living.

I can only image that feeling. Maybe you can't feel your legs under you and your body seems seconds from going out of control. When the entire infield feels like it's going to tilt back and forth, just enough to topple you over. I can imagine thinking that I'm going to twitch wrong and be called for a balk or give something away. Ruin an entire game because I can't control myself. If I start my windup and loose my balance I'm going to rush it and throw something wild. I'M GOING TO SCREW UP.

Last night when I read the story of Mr. Willis being let go in AZ I thought, "an anxiety disorder? Him?" I read about how he had fallen on hard times, or was losing his pitching control. How he used to be an amazing talent, but now.....
They rattled off his stats and his "decline" year after year and I have to admit it pissed me off a bit. I know there is someone out there cutting him from their fantasy team or cussing him out because of the money he isn't earning. Blah blah blah.

If i had lost my job because of my anxiety disorder, I could have gotten another one. If my flight or fight instincts had gotten me fired, I could land somewhere. If this is the end of the line for Dontrelle's pitching career, I'm hoping he has things to fall back on too, but money and prestige is only the smallest part of the equation. What becomes of the man?

I went on medication years ago for my panic disorder. For years I believed that if I could just stop the attacks, then life would get back to "normal". I struggled to either ignore the reality of the disorder or self-medicate myself into oblivion and put off dealing with it until the next day when the whole mess would start all over again.
Years later a pastor I had a great deal of respect for began to council me in my new found faith. After spending a few weeks familiarizing himself with my story, he asked me something to the effect of, "So you're taking the medication to relieve yourself of the panic, but are you healing?" I had no idea what he meant. If there were no panic attacks, then there was no problem. Right? I'm sure I fumbled through some lame answer, but I had no idea what he meant until years later. What I discovered was that these attacks; this disorder, scarred me. Emotionally, figuratively, and spiritually. I had no confidence. No desire to be anywhere that wasn't "safe". For me this meant staying home, staying drunk, or both. Preferably both.

After reading the small stat-laden articles on Dontrelle, I felt a pit forming in my stomach. WHAT ABOUT THE MAN?! What about the pain he is going through right this minute? Not the pain of being cut by the D-Backs, but the pain of (possibly) thinking that he is somewhat less of a man than he used to be. Could that happen to him like it did me? Who is there for him? Does he have support? Help? Are there people around him that understand? How much pressure do we put on ourselves that doesn't need to be there? How much of this is physical and how little of it is mental?

If I knew him, I would say, Don't buy into the lie! You may not feel it now, but you are the same man you were 5 or 10 years ago. If fact you are MORE! Your older, wiser, smarter, more experienced. You may not see it that way now, but it's true. There may be uncontrollable thoughts and emotions that throw you into a tailspin of anger, depressions, sadness, and more. But you cannot be robbed of who God has created you to be! Please don't be afraid to let others help you. Sometimes we're unsure because we don't even know what we don't know.

You are NOT lost, brother.