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Breakeven

Today I got a bad haircut from a hot girl.

So I guess that cancels out or something.

Day 02 - Where you’d like to be in 10 years.

I know, I know…. Day 1 was weeks ago, but without further ado…

Where I would like to be in 10 years?

Well… I would like to be married, maybe have a child or two, and be in full-time pastoral ministry.

Those are the only the only specific goals I have at this point. I don’t know where I’ll be living. I haven’t thought that far ahead on a lot of things, which I think is okay. :)

Sorry… this is not nearly as fun to read as my last entry… but my last entry dealt with matter of “now” whereas this deals in (what feels like) the distant future.

An Entrepreneur

Tonight at work, I overheard someone explaining that “if he ever cheated on me, I’d just breakup with him.”

There’s an idea.

Day 01 - Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is.

I am a single guy.

There are no other guys attached to me. I’m just the one guy. (Jerry Seinfeld)

Single life is….. okay?

I haven’t really been much in the dating or relationship game for a few years now. The last serious relationship I was in did not end well. During that time, I failed to lead as I should have. I failed miserably. I wasn’t acting like a man… I was more like a boy who could shave. Many mistakes were made, and it didn’t end well. By the end, I was more broken than ever before, and the consequences been long-lasting.

Because of that, I don’t serial date like some people do. I just really feel that I need to use a lot of discernment, and not rush into the wrong situation, despite how much I want that that special person in my life.

The tough part is that when I do begin to connect really well with someone on a personal level to the point that I am attracted to them, I feel a good sense of chemistry and a security in being my real, quirky self around them, and I develop an admiration for them - for their beliefs and what is important to them - I either come to find out that they have no interest in dating at this juncture of life (click HERE), or they already have some other lucky guy… or they find one.

So here I am.

The good news is that I have mostly overcome the lie that I am still single because there is something wrong with me. I would say that is a constant daily battle, and I have an easier time accepting it some days than I do on others, but I am beginning to understand the value of this season in life.

See, I believe God is preparing me for that person, that chapter of life, and that He’s preparing that person for me, whoever it is (So I think there is a lot of value in praying for that person now, even if you don’t know who it is).

Even just looking at the last year… I’m finished (basically) with school, I joined a small group and made a BUNCH of new friends (I’ve especially enjoyed surrounding myself with more Godly men who are a little further along in life than I am… aka married and not living at home.), I’ve begun leading worship again at Sonrise Church, attending staff meetings (the pastors have been unbelievable - I love all you guys. It’s such an honor to learn from you), and now am in the middle of Financial Peace University. All of these people and these things have been used by God to grow me in just the last year alone, and what a thrill it’s been!

Make no mistake, this is so, so, so tough for me. I know what I want. I want to be married.. yesterday. It’s especially tough because everyone and their dog seems to be either in a relationship, engaged, or married (but not TO their dog in any of the aforementioned scenarios, though this IS Oregon…). My younger brother has now been married for almost a year (next month!), in fact.

But I’ll get there. Maybe that person will walk into my life tomorrow, or 10 years from now. Whatever the case, I’m just trying to give it to God each day. Some days it works great, other days, I am that guy wallowing in self-pity, but I try, I promise.

I guess I would wrap this up by just encouraging single men to use this time wisely. Let’s not spend our time discouraged that we can’t spend $20 on movie tickets or make out with someone. I’m not going to throw a Bible verse at you to make you feel better. But I would encourage you to pursue God (whatever that looks like for you), pursue other Godly men (think mentoring and accountability), and pursue independence and stability in your life (prepare yourself to have a wife and family - financially, etc.).

30 Day Challenge

I suppose I’ll give this a shot, because… well… why not? I’m not going to guarantee I’ll write on all of them, because frankly some of them I can’t really relate to, or I don’t really want to discuss because of who will be reading them.

Anyway…

Day 01 - Your current relationship, if single discuss how single life is. 

Day 02 - Where you’d like to be in 10 years. 

Day 03 - Your views on drugs and alcohol. 

Day 04 - Your views on religion. 

Day 05 - A time you thought about ending your own life. 

Day 06 - Write 30 interesting facts about yourself. 

Day 07 - Your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality. 

Day 08 - A moment you felt the most satisfied with your life. 

Day 09 - How you hope your future will be like. 

Day 10 - Discuss your first love and first kiss. 

Day 11 - Put your ipod on shuffle and write 10 songs that pop up. 

Day 12 - Bullet your whole day. 

Day 13 - Somewhere you’d like to move or visit. 

Day 14 - Your earliest memory. 

Day 15 - Your favorite tumblrs. 

Day 16 - Favorite form of exercise?

Day 17 - Your highs and lows of this past year. 

Day 18 - Your beliefs. 

Day 19 - Disrespecting your parents. 

Day 20 - How important you think education is. 

Day 21 - One of your favorite shows. 

Day 22 - How have you changed in the past 2 years? 

Day 23 - Give pictures of 5 guys who are famous who you find attractive. 

Day 24 - Short term goals for this month and why?

Day 25 - A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?

Day 26 - What kind of person attracts you. 

Day 27 - A problem that you have had. 

Day 28 - Something that you miss. 

Day 29 - Goals for the next 30 days. 

Day 30 - Your highs and lows of this month.

Bad Eschatology

Obviously the big topic of discussion today was the prediction of 89-year-old man, who predicted that the Son of Man would return, or call the believers home and destroy the earth, or something like that.

I prefer to go by what the Bible says, and so today was just a big joke to me.

Actually, I’m pretty sure it was a joke to everyone, everywhere.

By the way, let me just say this: a good rule of thumb is that if someone says they know when the rapture is going to take place, they’re wrong. They just are. Matthew 24 says that “no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (v.36)

If Jesus doesn’t even know when Jesus is coming back, then how arrogant does one have to be to be like “it’s okay, Jesus, I know this one…”

Good grief.

Anyway, my favorite part about today were the different ways in which people joked about this ridiculous notion that the world was ending at 6pm.

“6 minutes until we’re all dead”.

“I don’t want to die, I haven’t experienced sex yet!” (click HERE)

“All the good people are leaving, you all are gonna be stuck with ___________, hahaha, suckers.

“Good thing you didn’t go boating TODAY, there might have been a flash flood.”

My favorite I heard today from a coworker shortly after 6pm:

“Nick, I would have thought that at least YOU would have gone…”

Pretty much every co-worker I talked today mentioned it. It was funny hearing all of the different opinions or jokes on the matter. What is clear to me is that the rapture, or end times in general, is a branch of theology that is not well understood.

I mean, we never talk about it in much depth at church on the weekends, and those who have read the Bible know that Revelation is a pretty challenging book to understand. Are things in the book to be taken literally at face value, or do we need to take into account the possibility of symbolism?

I will say that if Revelation is correct, and Jesus is coming back on a white horse, and is wearing many crowns and a blood-dipped robe, and sporting a “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” tattoo on his thigh, and wielding a sword from his mouth, I know what team I want to be playing for.

Jesus came in deliberate humility the first time, but the second time? No way.

Majesty and glory.

As for now, I guess I’m still here.

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
Mother Teresa

(Source: schmarnips)