Sean R. Reid

I subscribe to a LOT of Daily Devotionals.  I like to get email that isn’t spam or work-related.  Also, as a new Christian I’m trying to devour as much as I can and find inspiration from as many Biblical based sources as possible.  So when I say a lot I mean a LOT.  Today the following questions where part of one of the devotionals:

From Proverbs 31 Ministries:

I know the site is a ministry for women but that doesn’t mean the devotionals lack any relevance for men.

“-What if you live in authenticity and discover new and lasting relationships (even with those in your own home)?
-What if you face your fears and overcome them?
-What if you unmask your emotions and actually deal with them?
-What if you tell your secrets and they no longer suffocate you in the hidden places of your heart?”

I’m the kind of guy who is either asking “what if” and worrying instead of doing or I’m just jumping in guns blazin’ with no real idea of what I’m getting into.  Regardless I myself saying later, “I shoulda/coulda/woulda.”  In both cases I’m usually acting out of fear.  It’s either wanting to run to something new, run from something old or being paralyzed to enact any change.  I can’t say I ever even CONSIDERED that option of success.

I think the “what would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail” question has become rather cliche.  But I think those four questions are pragmatic, they are game changers.  What would happen if I faced my fears and overcame them? What would happen if I stopped being focused on failure and started expecting success?  What if I dedicated my life to being so focused on God and what he wants for me (credit: Andy Stanley) that I didn’t have a chance to be afraid??  What if asking “what if” wasn’t from a place of worry but a place of strength.

What if?

This isn’t my story but it’s close enough that I swear I heard myself telling it.

It was put together by North Point Community Church, which is where Jess and I attend.  When I first walked in the doors with Jess I was still newly returned. I felt like wound that had it’s bandage removed too quickly.  Fresh air hurt.  I felt like everyone around me would know that I was a former atheist and I’d be immediately shunned.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

God Bless Andy Stanley and North Point, they truly have created an environment where the un-churched feel welcome.  And, it seems, I’m not the only former atheist in the house afterall.  I guess I can take the proverbial “scarlett letter” off my shirt now.

It’s Personal – A Former Atheist Speaks from dewde on Vimeo.

credit: Artists For Christ Blog

Part 2

Romans 12:9-21

The original idea for this topic was a daily entry on the topic of anger.  I intended to dig through the Bible and find entries about the topic, put them here and expound upon them in ignorance with my own lack of Bibical scholarship (yeah, that’s sarcasm, but I honestly am not a scholar of any sort on the topic).

God had other plans.  I couldn’t have orchestrated this course of events had I tried.  I couldn’t have summoned an experience with anger any more apt for this series.  I had expected daily posting would be tricky since we’re in the middle of moving my fiance’.  That was not a surprise.  The dream that woke me on Tuesday night WAS a surprise.

Quick background: a few years ago I had succumbed to the wishes of my family to seek counseling.  My parent’s divorce was a bit of an “earth-shaker” for me.  It built up an overwhelming amount of anger and resentment toward my Dad.  In fact, it was so overwhelming that it began to dictate ALL of my actions and infect all of my personal relationships.  It took about 3 years or so before I could really let some of that anger go.  I’ve mostly forgiven my Dad for cheating on my Mom.  I’ve re-established a quasi-relationship with him.  I’m not entirely “happy” but I’m far from suffering from such crippling anger.

Apparently, it’s now my Mom’s turn.

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So, the goal for this week will be an entry every day dealing with anger and what Scripture tells us in that regard.  Of course, I might be copping out by choosing a “short week,” but I figure it’s just a wise use of time. 

Post later today, I’ve got some outlining to do…

Proverbs 7:1-5

This one is to the young men out there.  The guys who are the guy I used to be.  I was young once.  Arguably, I’m still young (ask my fiance’).  I’ve held a tenacious grip on my youth.  I want to remember the feelings, good, bad and otherwise.   At times I’ve held onto the bad so tightly it has caused blood to flow from my palms.  I thought I needed the scars, I needed the punishment.  I wasn’t worthy.  I thought my bad deeds made me a bad person, rotten to the core.

I stand here a sinner, repentant, still struggling and letting the wounds heal on my  hands.  At this very moment there are about 4 remnants of many more scars.  Actual scars from real punishment met by hands beating on a canvas bag. Being 34 and born-again doesn’t make this life any easier or the struggles and tempations any easier to overcome.  Ironically, I think the enemy is fighting harder and I’m tempted more often now than I was when I was lost.

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