Who's your Daddy?

For anyone who might actually follow my blog, I apologize for not posting for a while. I actually have about 3 or 4 blogs qued up. I just need to add a few touches first.

Here's a copy of an email I wrote to some bros in Christ today. It is focused primarily on my current trial of unemployment.

I'm a very systematic/engineering type of guy. In fact this is how I approach God's word (book by book, chapter by chapter). Well I'm currently in Psalms. As background I used to only see this book as worship songs and laments. While it is this, it's so much more. There are encouragements, prophecies and more than this, the character of Jesus is proclaim in this book.

Anyway, today I made my way to Psalm 96. If you guys have the time I would encourage you to read this chapter. You'll see how this chapter is reiterated later by Jesus to his disciples in the form of the Great Commission, which was the topic of one of our conversations last night (who is really our boss? what is our real job as believers? what type of attitude should we strive for?). You'll see all of these questions are not only answered by Jesus in the gospels, but also here in little ole Psalm 96.

I. What is our job?

"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
² Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
³ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples."

We are first told to sing praises to the Lord:
We also see in both the gospels and other NT books that the apostles would sing psalms to the Lord, especially during trials, tribulations and persecutions.

Secondly we are essentially taught to fulfill the Great Commission in these verses.

II. Why?
See verses 4-6.

III. This particular Psalms ends with an End Times prophecy in verse 13. To me this is a direct indication of why God has shared prophesies with us in the first place. I don't believe it's to scare folks into heaven or to scare us. Fear is not a holy quality. I believe the prophecies are given to us to: 1. Prove that Jesus had to die for our sins and be raised from the dead, also that He fulfilled the law (also see the book of Hebrews). or 2. To encourage us to sustain a joyful urgency with regards to performing our job (The Great Commission), for our true boss (Jesus). Jesus wants us to have both peace and joy in our hearts so that we can lovingly approach and encourage others.

Anyway, this is what I believe God has shown me today.

The horror of the dispassionate life

I've been in a malaise for quite a while now. I feel like life is moving so much faster every day and I'm just along for this ride till the end. In some ways it would be nice to hibernate for a year or so and see if my life improves at all.

I think a contributing factor is my burn out on engineering. Engineering: a profession "I picked", or which picked me, because I used to love drawing and enjoyed drafting in high school. Little did I know what a crap sandwich engineering would be. Unethical bosses & business practices. Almost zero creative outlet. I dread the thought of actually having to get yet another engineering job. Even more so moving for one.

My problem is that I can't figure out what I want to do with my life. When I graduated college I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Be an engineer.

I love music, art, creativity, mentoring/discipling, discussing Jesus Christ's impact on the world as well as individuals. How do I turn this into a profession? While I must admit the thought of going to seminary is attractive, but is it what I should do? I don't feel a specific ministry calling. Art teacher? No. I don't feel this compulsion to be around kid's for 8+ hours a day.

The issue is my interests are either hobbies or part time endeavors. No wonder I'm in a malaise and now unemployed for the 5th time to boot.

I've always wanted to own my own business. Is there a way God could use this desire and open a door? I need to get out of this funk...

Anyway, I was reading Psalm 77 the other day. I found myself desiring the kind of passion the author expresses.

How do I get this kind of passion back?

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered you, O God, and I groaned

The psalmist groaned or moaned for God. He felt so isolated, alone dejected and yet instead of turning away from God he saught him out.

Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?

He questions God. Then immediately thinks back to God's faithfulness and blessings for the remainder of the psalm.