It comes as no surprise these days that people only want the good parts of everything they do. They quit jobs when times get rough, find new friends when they have a disagreement with a friend, even get divorced or cheat when marriage becomes “stagnant.”
This is why I worry about so many people coming to faith because of Revivals like Ashbury. Like any other thing in life, faith is not an easy walk. It requires commitment, dedication, continuous building.. and walking away from it is more detrimental than walking away from anything else in life. Faith, and a relationship with God and His son Jesus, is required for “eternal life” (there’s a lot more to say here but this is Chad’s Substack)
That is why I’m glad that Chad is a close (though remote) friend of mine. His work here explains very well the issues in our country today and in faith today.
Believing in God is just a part of the blessing of Christianity and I often find many Christian’s that don’t actually follow what scripture says.
The best way to find joy always in faith and any other aspects of life is to develop and maintain that relationship. For faith, it’s done through constant scripture study and talking to God, be it by prayer or as if He’s standing in front of you. When you need direction, turn to the Bible! I’ve found it many many times in even just this last month or two! Talk to God, let him hear your grievances! We vent to friends and co-workers, why not vent to The One who can and WIlL actually help?
Ok I’m carried away. But we all understand not just what I’m saying, but more importantly what Chad says here.
I totally agree with you. I have been on my own soapbox for a while now that we live in the "disposable era". EVERYTHING is disposable, including jobs, friendships AND marriages.
When you break it down.. the reason is because people no longer “walk with Jesus” nor “carry the cross” they have their expectations and when they aren’t met they move on immediately without any attempt at fixing the issues
The modern obsession with INSTANT gratification is unbelievable. I got sucked into it too, but by the Grace of God I got OUT ot that mentality. And life is sooooo much more enjoyable now.
I think that a big part of the lesson is to be grateful for the gift(s) that God bestows upon you. And if you don't anticipate/expect/DEMAND any particular gift in a certain time frame, or place, you will be SURPRISED and FULFILLED beyond your wildest dreams.
I also find it both humorous and incredibly sad that people want to put that sort of expectation upon GOD. Like God is going to perform tricks on command like any decently trained dog. "Raise the dead, God. Come on, raise the dead."
Or people use god (intentional lower case g) as a magic 8 ball. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE Should I go after that ...new job?...prety girl?...SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, will I get the promotion I so greatly deserve?
I can't really speak for others, but MY relationship with God is NOTHING like Him being the magician at my 8th birthday party and He is there to grant me my every wish or answer every question ON DEMAND.
I find solace in the littlest of things in life (at least now), similar to what Chad talks about in this article. I can't FORCE my relationship with God to be anything other than what it is. And He is ALWAYS the director of events. I just need to keep alert for the time that He DOES send be a message.
That’s the thing though. With a real genuine relationship with God, he will perform miracles for you. Certainly not necromancer raise the dead level. But “ask and thou shalt receive, seeketh and though shall find.”
He will provide what you need when you have a relationship with him. Granted you also have to work for it. You can’t say “let my bills be paid God” and sit on the couch. You still have to go to work but you’re less likely to hit them unnecessary impulse buys or sit in a drive thru line. At least I’ve found less desire for all that nonsense now.
It comes as no surprise these days that people only want the good parts of everything they do. They quit jobs when times get rough, find new friends when they have a disagreement with a friend, even get divorced or cheat when marriage becomes “stagnant.”
This is why I worry about so many people coming to faith because of Revivals like Ashbury. Like any other thing in life, faith is not an easy walk. It requires commitment, dedication, continuous building.. and walking away from it is more detrimental than walking away from anything else in life. Faith, and a relationship with God and His son Jesus, is required for “eternal life” (there’s a lot more to say here but this is Chad’s Substack)
That is why I’m glad that Chad is a close (though remote) friend of mine. His work here explains very well the issues in our country today and in faith today.
Believing in God is just a part of the blessing of Christianity and I often find many Christian’s that don’t actually follow what scripture says.
The best way to find joy always in faith and any other aspects of life is to develop and maintain that relationship. For faith, it’s done through constant scripture study and talking to God, be it by prayer or as if He’s standing in front of you. When you need direction, turn to the Bible! I’ve found it many many times in even just this last month or two! Talk to God, let him hear your grievances! We vent to friends and co-workers, why not vent to The One who can and WIlL actually help?
Ok I’m carried away. But we all understand not just what I’m saying, but more importantly what Chad says here.
I totally agree with you. I have been on my own soapbox for a while now that we live in the "disposable era". EVERYTHING is disposable, including jobs, friendships AND marriages.
When you break it down.. the reason is because people no longer “walk with Jesus” nor “carry the cross” they have their expectations and when they aren’t met they move on immediately without any attempt at fixing the issues
The modern obsession with INSTANT gratification is unbelievable. I got sucked into it too, but by the Grace of God I got OUT ot that mentality. And life is sooooo much more enjoyable now.
I think that a big part of the lesson is to be grateful for the gift(s) that God bestows upon you. And if you don't anticipate/expect/DEMAND any particular gift in a certain time frame, or place, you will be SURPRISED and FULFILLED beyond your wildest dreams.
I also find it both humorous and incredibly sad that people want to put that sort of expectation upon GOD. Like God is going to perform tricks on command like any decently trained dog. "Raise the dead, God. Come on, raise the dead."
Or people use god (intentional lower case g) as a magic 8 ball. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE Should I go after that ...new job?...prety girl?...SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, will I get the promotion I so greatly deserve?
I can't really speak for others, but MY relationship with God is NOTHING like Him being the magician at my 8th birthday party and He is there to grant me my every wish or answer every question ON DEMAND.
I find solace in the littlest of things in life (at least now), similar to what Chad talks about in this article. I can't FORCE my relationship with God to be anything other than what it is. And He is ALWAYS the director of events. I just need to keep alert for the time that He DOES send be a message.
That’s the thing though. With a real genuine relationship with God, he will perform miracles for you. Certainly not necromancer raise the dead level. But “ask and thou shalt receive, seeketh and though shall find.”
He will provide what you need when you have a relationship with him. Granted you also have to work for it. You can’t say “let my bills be paid God” and sit on the couch. You still have to go to work but you’re less likely to hit them unnecessary impulse buys or sit in a drive thru line. At least I’ve found less desire for all that nonsense now.