Is Christianity Conventional (practical/customary)? The Convenient Relationships:

Food for Thought: I heard this quote I think it is a good one to stick by. That tomorrow has no mistakes, it's a new day. If you have one day that is Jonah day, the next day is a new beginning. 1 Cor. 13 says that "love keeps no record of wrongs" and yet we tend to want to hold things over people's head. I know my husband popped up and told me that something I did bothered him 15 years ago one day. He told me I disappointed him. I told him that I gave my disappointments to Jesus. He should have given that one to God long ago. Everyone will disappoint you at one time. People have character flaws. (Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23)

I find that even with God I get disappointed because I've gotten my eyes on the wrong thing. It's like Christmas. I've got my eyes on the present not on the giver of the gift. If you had a gift in life that broke before its time, it's like a present that eventually the present did not work or it was not exactly what you expected. Maybe the video game was not as thrilling over time that you thought it would be. Nothing in this life lasts forever on this planet except what we take in our heart. "Love never fails, love endures forever."

(Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2)

Is Christianity Conventional (practical/customary)? The Convenient Relationships:

My first office job was a bookkeeper when I was 18 years old.  I saw the mark-up prices for a convenient food store.  So although you may get gas, milk and bread cheaper, everything else is high-priced. The markup price can be around 30 or 40% and it’s the same way with a mark-up at shopping malls.  One reason I like to shop when things are on clearance. We have high-interest mortgage lenders/credit card lenders like Wells-Fargo or those high priced Payday loans. But then again, when you go to O’Malia’s, we may pay a little more for higher priced meat or a specialty store, but the quality is better. 

I dated this one person before my husband that commented to me that he was glad that I lived on the Westside of town, because it was easier to come see me.  The relationship did not work.  We are all about convenience in life.  When my first husband left and we were separated, his best friend and his wife (my best friend) separated at the same time.  She ran off and left him with two children.  He wanted to get together with me, because he knew what I liked, that I was a good at taking care of his two children, and would be a good wife. But my heart told me that it was too soon with him, and it was more of a relationship out of convenience.  If I would have not ended back in Indiana from Florida, I would have missed 15 years of the best years of my life with my husband. 

I just could not go there---I’ve had the same thing happen to me now that I’ve been widowed with two of my married friends going through a divorce. It’s relationships that come together that are convenient. I’m looking for the super duper special relationship like I had with my spouse. Maybe that is why I did not mind going through 26 men through a single’s ad to find him.  I’m stupid to believe God will do that again in my life.

My husband happened to live on the Westside of town too so maybe God does like me being a gas conservationist.  As far as saving planet earth – think again, I don’t see where planet earth is going to be saved, but He will create a new heaven and a new earth.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Rev. 21:1

I don’t see that it was convenient for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and he paid a “special price for our sins.”  God sent his best and that was his son.  I don’t believe it was convenient that Mary rode on a donkey nine months pregnant to Bethlehem with her husband or had to flee into Egypt, but I’m sure Joseph tried to make her comfortable on that donkey.  I can’t think of much I’ve done the last four years that is convenient at all, especially in finding single groups around town to fellowship at.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

I find my heavenly father is practical on my spending money in that I wanted to buy this dress at boutique in Nashville, Indiana that was $75.00 and probably would have bought if it was in my size since I liked it that much. I found the same dress in pink instead of green two weeks later in my size at a garage sale for $3.00, and it was dry cleaned.  I’ve received more compliments on that style of dress by many people at church.

Paul did not have a very conventional life either. I like the way when Jesus called Paul, he told him he was going to suffer.  What a great recruiting tool.  I can just picture the Army recruiter talking to some 18-year old and telling him that you are going to get your arms and legs blown off so come join our army and we will “immediately” send you to Iraq.  Maybe some of us are currently in Iraq spiritually?  Usually the army recruiter will tell him how they will pay for his college and the benefits he can get in buying a house in the future.   Well, in God’s kingdom we have some great rewards and they are better than a paid college tuition and a discount on a home.  Our benefits last for eternity and this life is just a drop in the bucket.  The book of Hebrews 11 talks about the trials that people endured.

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Acts 9:16

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Cor. 4:17

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 2 have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Cor. 11:24-27

Go through the chapter of Hebrews 11, I don’t see very many Christians had conventional lives. 

They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—Hebrews 11:37

Somewhere Out There:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REkYEQE-qtU&feature=related