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It 3:33AM. Why am I up, you ask? Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with my nocturnal lifestyle. But rather for whatever dopey reason, I simply have refused to exercise. When I don't, I get indegestion which wakes me up at night. When I exercise, this doesn't happen. Tonight, I woke up all fired up about getting into shape (go figure). So. Here's to hoping it won't happen much any more.
Among friends, I have already made the comment that this is going to be the decade where I get some of my bucket list done. 42 is creeping up on me and I feel like it is finally the season of my life to do the things I have always wanted to do. Some of these things include very physical things like running a marathon (just 1 thank you, I find running terribly boring), competing in a marathon, hiking major portions of Pacific Coast Trail (if not all of it), etc. These things combined with the upset stomach thing mean it's time to get in shape. Now don't get me wrong, I don't see myself as terribly unfit. It is simply time to drop those 20-30 pounds gained from getting married and having a kid (Yes... even us guys gain weight when those things occur). So let me go on record as saying I would like to run my marathon by Spring of 2013 sometime (not sure when those sorts of things take place) and my first triathlon sometime in the Summer of 2013, which means I should probably learn to swim... in open water {which, if you know me at all, is another thing entirely}. And by swim, I mean more than the passible doggy paddle and backstroke that I do in a pool. Actually, now that I stop to think about it, I wouldn't mind being in the best shape of my life at 42. Why? Just because I can. ***smirk So. Here it goes. I am going to start this morning, once Mr. Sun has decided to wake up, have his coffee and join me in the day. OH... I almost forgot. For those of you wondering how I am doing on the internet 2 times a day thing for half an hour. Actually, it is going pretty well. In reality, I am usually sitting at a computer twice a day where I do the majority of my catching up and checking things out. My phone now comes into play regularly about once a day primarily to post things to Twitter or Facebook which leads to an inevitable quick check and then jump over to check email real quick too. But I still keep to an hour, sometimes an hour and fifteen if the phone has come out during the day. And I still think it is one of the best things I ever decided to do. "For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes in what he already sees? But if we hope for wat we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." -Romans 8:24-25
As I try and gather my wits about me, and cobble together a certain amount of perspective, it is fundamental to remember that hope over time (there's that perseverance thing again) leads to anticipation. But that anticipation is not for the next place or the next position. This hope and anticipation is intimately tied to our adoption as sons (Romans 8:23). This is where ultimate joy is found... knowing that we serve a risen Christ and that someday, we too will be ushered into THE Kingdom as heirs alongside Him. Please be continuing to pray for us as I seek to understand what God would have me do during this time. Pray that I would be able to discern the Spirit's prompting as we look forward. Pray that through it all, I would continue to make Christ known through it all and that I would know Him better as well. 
 Many of you might be looking at the photo on the left wondering, "What in the world??" All my geeky friends out there will probably immediately recognize this as the scene in Lord of the RIngs where despite overwhelming odds, challenges, and despite the need to chase down their quarry, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli set off to rescue their hobbit friends- Merry and Pippin, from the clutches of evil. Why do they go after them when all hope seems lost? Because it was the right thing to do.
God's Word tells us in Romans 5:3-5 to exult God in our tribulations (big word for trouble), because tribulations brings about perseverance, perseverance brings about proven character, and proven character brings about hope. And hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Let the Bible speak into your lives in all sorts of situations... good and bad. It is the Word of Life and the source of wisdom and knowledge that won't fail. Often as ministers we teach about acting on these principles found in Scripture and often times when we do, we are very far removed from the experiences that warrant the use of those verses. Allow me to teach from the trail that I am in the middle of running down right now and how (once again) the Bible proves that it is powerful and useful even in this day and age. I had a moment 10 days ago to either stand up for righteousness and clarify an issue concerning my past or to simply let it slide and potentially cause division. Being upfront meant that we would enter into one of those times where life was simply going to get difficult {Tribulation}(mind you the Bible never calls us to an easy life, but that's another post for another time). But difficulty in life is not any excuse for not being graceful. At every turn was another chance to choose to do what was right in the sight of the Lord, to extend grace to others, to be humble, and to put the unity of His church first. I praise my Father in heaven for the Holy Spirit who allowed me the strength to do all of these {Perseverance}. If you know the movies at all, there was an instance or two where I felt an awful like Gimli trying to run for days over the hills and open plains with his short stubby legs, "I'm wasted on cross-country! We dwarves are natural sprinters! [pant, pant, heaving breath, pant]" Allow me to write with no sense of conceit, but rather a desire to teach from the situation I find myself currently in, though there were times of exhaustion, pursuing righteousness is worth the effort. I am thankful for all the grace and kindness extended to my family and I and all the encouraging things that have been said about us over the past several days {Proven Character}. It is my prayer that these character qualities aren't seen as some inner strength of our own making, but rather solely from the Lord and that they would drive people to a deeper relationship with Him. Sure things are uncertain in our lives, but truly, the only thing that is certain is Christ. And what better place is there to look out onto uncertainty from than a place of Hope?  Moving into our new home has been terrific, but has also come with all sorts of things to handle on my end. Unpacking those last few boxes, a to-do list that never seems to get any shorter, back to school shopping, making new friends, meeting new people, getting poison ivy (UGH), and a dryer that quit working. To top it all off, my wife and I are now proud parents of a middle-schooler. All that to say, we've been busy.
Today however, was the first moment that I have had where a midst all the "stuff" going on, I was actually pigeon holed into an hour where I had nothing to accomplish. The porch, the rocking chair, lunch with Carla, and quiet dogs sunning themselves all made for a splendid combination that led me to my first real Dog Day of the summer. Time simply clicked by as I sat in silence and solitude. I stopped long enough to allow myself the blessing of simply saying, "Here am I, Lord," and waiting... and being... and waiting... and being... That's it. Simply waiting on the Lord. Not praying, not asking for anything, not intervening on behalf of someone. Simply letting the Holy Spirit minister to my soul in ways that I am sure I needed, but could never recognize or fully comprehend. It's a basic skill really, yet it's complicated to pull off in this day and age. How much time in the month of August have you sat alone in total silence (no music, no tv, phone is turned off, no technology beeping at you, friends are somewhere else, etc.)? What about any time you purposely set out to be alone with the Lord God Almighty? Mind you, being alone and being silent are two entirely different concepts. What about the idea of being both alone with God and being quiet before Him? For most, this is an awkward proposition. Yet, Psalm 16 ends with, "You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Notice where the source of knowledge, joy, and pleasure reside. Why wouldn't you want to spend time being still and listening? Seek the joy comes from simply being in His presence today.  Just a quick post to say, I've been busy. Between moving to another state, packing and unpacking the boxes, and almost having a dog die (the ball lover pictured here) once we got here has taken up most of my energy and emotional investment.
Here is what I have been up to... for a few days there, my phone got the better of me as I wanted to keep my friends updated about the process of moving and what was going on with Trixie (she seems to be getting better now, BTW Thanks for prayers and etc). So I certainly couldn't keep myself to my twice for 30 minutes a day routine. Now I am back to my regimen and happy for it. I've read a novel in four days for the first time in as long as I can remember. Ender's Game (I'm a sucker for sci-fi). I gotta say though, brutal 10 year old geniuses just didn't intrigue me too much. For those of you with older children out there... a little heads up (especially with all the rumors of it becoming a movie soon): several instances of cussing, but worse: a general attitude of how adults are really out to use children for their own means (which the adults actually do) with a general distrust of adults throughout. Also... the main character kills some other children "in self-defense" which causes him to wrestle with his identity of being a killer like his brother, who is only a teenager. I won't be suggesting it to my 11 year old son any time soon (if ever). The next book off the public library shelf is another science fiction novel- Opening Atlantis. Kind of an alternate history kind of thing (yes, I am a sucker for that specific subset of sci-fi genre as well). So far it is pretty good. Running has been put on hold, but is about to get started again next week. Theologically speaking, I am reading Hebrews and the concepts of shadow and covenant are really standing out to me. I will write more on this maybe sometime during the coming week as I continue to gather my findings and formulate my realizations. Be great. Pray hard. Read your Bibles. And go Team USA! -Peace |
Jason RitzServing through love and laughter is a great way to live. Categories
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