Buckle up Religiously

Driving through the county there's a catholic church that has this sign posted on the side of the road. I guess the first thing that popped into my mind is, since when did driving cars ever get connected to religion? The yo-yo effect kept going until I made further connections of doing things religiously: watching TV, brushing teeth, maintaining the garden, drinking; activities when done religiously should happen all the time. Right?

I come back to religion, and I keep interpreting it as 'dedicated'. So what am I dedicated to? I guess I can be religious about buckling my seat belt. But that's just something I grew up learning to do so that I don't all-of-a-sudden die; there's nothing more important than keeping your body on one side of the windshield when a bear runs into the middle of the road.



Lots of people talk about having a relationship with Christ while not being a big fan of religion; Jesus was great, but the people that follow him kind of suck.

I don't want to be controlled by a group of people who say "if you want to be part of us, this is what you have to be".

or

There's nothing for me in a system that tells me I have to stop doing the things I like.

To do something religiously entails that you're dedicated to an activity. I'm religious to the computer; I'm not so religious about washing my hair or tithing.
I know that there are things that I should be more religious about; small things like not biting my nails and big things like serving my community. There's a lot of good things that come from being religious and the whole world will tell us which are the best to dedicate ourselves to: health, happiness, wealth, sex, so forth.

Anything and everything that you dedicate your time and energy to will grow. No exceptions.

The forethought comes from thinking about which kind of fruit you want to nurture. The things that you show the most dedication to will end up being the things that you are most associated with.

For myself, there are pitfalls everywhere that tell me that I'm the most important thing in the world. I'm still trying to unlearn this. I know that with certain pastors, certain people who have seen the light, there is another way. They tell me about Jesus, the guy who didn't dedicate himself to money or sleep; He's a guy I could really get behind and follow.

There are hundreds of people around you searching for that same vane of selflessness as they seek God. Be religious about Christ and if you want to find them, he'll bring them to you.

But also, seat belts help; Flossing is a good habit as well.

Making Centerpieces

With my wedding coming up in August, the hassles associated with getting the day done are ever mounting. One of the biggest that I should be ashamed about getting so excited about are the center pieces. Leave it to my fiance to come up with the idea, but put that project at my disposal. Since our colors are pink and brown, there was only one sensible things to do:
MAKE
ORCHID
TREES.

Ingredients include the following:
A faggot, obtainable from your nearest forest;

A bunch of plastic orchids;

Sultry glue;

and ~25 flower vases depending on the population at your reception;



So for the next 24 hours, yours truly is connecting A to B and C. Victory pictures t.b.p.

Another turning point in the road

"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45

Insurance commercials preach that life comes at you fast. Under the same breath is the message that death comes even faster, like a thief in the night. A friend of mine, S___, called me yesterday afternoon to tell me of tragedy. Sometime between Friday night and the rise of the sun on Saturday, S___'s little brother T____ suffered blood loss, broken bones, and brain damage. The doctor's were able to stop the bleeding and maintain the bones, but it was the brain that they couldn't help; it was up to his body.

The spirit falls on a people in such drastic times like a flood.

I recall a number of plights that has faced this family over the past few years. Recently, where this same young man lost his sight in one eye while yet another member of the family was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Some of us know a person or a family that has taken a beating in terms of hard times. We start to pray for God's will to be done, but in out thoughts we're really thinking "Alright God, enough already with the rain falling on this family". For me, this is truth. I don't want Silas, nor his family to experience any more pain.

Another man to be visited by intense loss is Steve Saint, author of The End of the Spear. As a father, Steve Saint's daughter came home from a year long missions trip reporting a headache. Less than 9 hours later she was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage and lay dead in a hospital. The response that Steve Saint gives to his daughters passing is jaw droopingly un-worldly.

God is our creator, he knows how intricately and beautifully we are each made and we must yield to his calling.It is by grace that we are called to come home, even at the final hour of the day. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot

At 7:51 this morning I received a call from S___, and was told that his brother had been called to come home to God. Knowing them both as the closest thing to brothers that I've ever had leaves a hole in my chest. Life comes fast, unfortunately it never stays as long as we want. Prayer for his family is most important at this time. It feels unnatural for parents to outlive their young, and Christ's love through you must overflow.

The ripple effect is at hand, and while I have yet to see what great things are yet to happen from this sorrow I rest in confidence that the hand of God is in all of our lives, loving us and bringing us closer to his grace.

May we be broken and be remade with less of ourselves, more of Him.

trevor.diaz@gmail.com

The Last Day

Things about money upset meless now. I'm not bothered as much as I would have been in the past about someone taking advantage of me for money. It actually enables me to smile because I'm enriched by the relationship, and especially for being blessed enough to be elect for being a tool. I am more than the sum of my wallet, and the lives of those around me mean much more than a few dollars. Le Chaim.