The Gap

This is Water

http://youtu.be/QiyY4t7WbnU

People think,

• When I get older, I’ll get better;
• I’ll never do what my parents do;
• I’m better than that guy
• The world is a terrible place full of stupid people

However, we don’t often look at ourselves for the fix.

Romans 7:14-25

New International Version (NIV)

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin

There is this huge gap between the imaginary person that we think we are or will become and the person reflected through our actions. Our day is full of choices. There are two ways we make decisions.

1. When we make a choice, we don’t think of how we look to the world when we do the action, but we decide out of our own selfishness.

2. Habits- In the American Journal of Psychology it is defined in this way: "A habit, from the standpoint of psychology, is a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience.

Muhammad Ali

What does he mean? As we grow, we should see things differently.

Is that good or bad for habits? As we change our habits keep us from fully changing.

Changing a habit is like erasing a sharpie mark. It’s difficult. It’s easier to make new habits. It takes thirty days for a decision to turn into a habit (doing something everyday for thirty days usually makes it a habit).

You’re not going to wake up when you turn eighteen and become a responsible adult. There are plenty of people my age (21), who still act like they are thirteen. The decisions you make today should be based on who you aspire to be; the best part of yourself. It’s almost like acting because you have to forget yourself and try to be someone new, someone you will like and respect more.

This is Water video- David Foster Wallace made that speech at a graduation. He has written many books award winnings books that would be good to read. He thought theologically without wanting to, and called it philosophy. He committed suicide. Why is this important. I live with the idea of constant improvement. Wallace also did; however, he lacked the love that comes from God. That love makes things immensely better and without it there is a God-sized hole in everything. The idea of constant improvement is great, but not the right size to fill the hole.

Lawful to Do Good

Read Matthew 12: 1-14

Here you have those tricky Pharisees trying to trap Jesus in going against the law. They are so self-assured by the rules. The rules make them look good and they love the Law because of that. Jesus, on the other hand, chose to help the man. Helping him went against the Law of the Pharisees. Who makes a law against helping someone? People who are seeking their own happiness. Even though, He could get in trouble by helping the man, Jesus did and basically said helping someone is above any rule, self-gratification, and happiness.

Justice for the oppressed

My mom is from a little village in Mexico, at 16 she swam the colorado river and ended up in Yuma, AZ. She had a few odd jobs before she met my dad and he invited her to church, The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army took a big risk by hiring her to be the social service worker when I was around 10. She learned a lot at that job and that led her to the path of finding her current job that she is passionate about; helping the unfortunate. Specifically, those born with mental handicaps and who are emotionally unstable.  She helps people by driving them to appointments, helping them fill out forms, picking up their medications and helping them cope with the world. Usually, when people are having issues like anger or depression, she teaches them coping skills. These skills mostly consist of volunteering somewhere, or going to art shows or hikes.

Lennon

I do not like this picture of a John Lennon quote. When you only care about yourself and your own happiness, your life gets worse.

The goal of life is not happiness that is the means to the goal. You should do things happily. More importantly you should DO THINGS!

If your only goal is to be happy then you will fail. Trying to satisfy yourself leads at least to people disliking you. To put it plainly, if you are near someone small with an iPad wouldn't it make you happy to have an iPad. So why not take it? On the other hand, if you wake up early and wash all the dishes, what would the people around say to you when you wake up? So would you rather have a kid and his parents super mad at you or people you love really happy with you? You should be trying to make others happy.

Like I said, my parents went to church before I was even born. So I have been going my whole life and had the Bible read to me every night. When I was young, it was fun and exciting. When I became a teenager, I was too cool for all of it. I wouldn't be a distraction but I also would never participate. While trying to satisfy my flesh, I found myself in a bout of depression and considering ending my life and receiving an intervention by some great people in my church and when I was seventeen I decided to work at the Salvation Army camp. Once I was hired, I immediately grew my prayer life so that God would mold me from a depressed weirdo into a good camp counselor for all the kids to come. And when they came, I was so on fire for God and on my breaks I would have my nose up the Bible to prepare for nightly devotions. It was the closest I have ever been to God.

Seeking happiness leads to depression or anger other bad things. Seeking to help people happily leads to life to the full.

Proverbs 21:21

"He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor"

Righteousness as in right so like Justice.

It doesn't say those who pursue happiness find it! No those who pursue, as in have a thirst for/ as in are happy to do it, justice find LIFE!

So think about a group of people or someone who is oppressed. Or even someone who is worse off than you. 

There are plenty. Have you heard of what is happening in Venezuela or Mexico or even why so many people cross the border; do you know why the hotels are unfinished in Sochi; do you think the injustice to Native Americans is over; did you know the super bowl is the busiest day for human traffickers; do you know what is happening with your neighbors?

How can you help them?

Let's at least start with a prayer, not for them, not yet at least. A prayer for God to change your heart! He created you to care not to be cared for! So pray for you.

Then Pray for them.

Then meet them and meet their needs.