not enough hours in the day?

I have not posted a blog in two months now. It's not that I don't have anything to say or do not wish to post a blog. I would like to say that I simply don't have enough time. But as I pondered that excuse I realized that we all basically do what we want to do. Now, I am not suggesting that blogging is of utmost importance or needs to be a priority in anyone's life; I simply think that it serves as a case-in-point regarding our view and use of time.

I believe, based upon the Bible, that God transcends time. He is not bound by time like we humans. I also believe that God is the author and creator of time. That being stated, it is God who gives us 24 hours per day. This should and must impact our view of time and its use; to simply use the "there aren't enough hours in the day" excuse simply will not fly. It simply isn't true. We have all the time we need to accomplish all that God would have us accomplish. The problem isn't time or the lack thereof; the problem is our prioritization of the time that God has entrusted to us.

How do we remedy this problem? We have to start by remembering why we exist and what time is all about in an ultimate sense. Do we understand that our very existence, while a gift from God, is about God and given for His purposes. We don't live simply for ourselves. God's desire is that we not only know Him but that we find pleasure in serving Him and spreading His fame throughout the earth. This should be our driving force when we open our eyes in the morning and close them in the evening. After coming to grips with this reality we must determine to be wise stewards of the time we have been given. This means prioritization and tending to the activities that will allow us to know God more fully and serve Him more completely. Again, we do what we want to do!

How many of us carve out time for our favorite TV show- the one we wouldn't dare miss? (24 for me) How many of us would not consider missing our gym-time or golf game, checking our facebook page, or (insert whatever you do here)? Nothing wrong with any of these things. But how many of us put all of this above our time in prayer, the Word of God, or sacrificial service to Him via serving others? C.S. Lewis was correct when he wrote, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

So I quickly conclude as to not take up too much of your time if you happen to be reading this. Never say "there aren't enough hours in the day." There are. Instead, ask yourself what is most important and tend to those things first. If it means missing a TV show don't worry; you can catch the rerun!

Blogs, Narcissism and God's Glory

I can't believe that I am writing this blog. Does anyone really care what I think or have to say? I know I could care less what most blogs and tweets and face book walls say. As if television, video games, and the Internet weren't enough to keep us occupied and vie for our precious time, we now have new ways to squander the 24 hours a day God has given us.

Can God use all of these techno tools for His glory? Can they serve mankind in some positive way? Yes, and yes. There are times when someone actually posts some thoughts or information that is encouraging and refocuses me upon God and His ways or His Word, but more often than not the information gleaned from these self-aggrandizing methods of communication serve no purpose of importance. Posts and thoughts that convey the mundane, obvious, or simply complain are of little value. It seems that all they accomplish is an opportunity to make the author feel good about himself due to the fact that his face and thoughts are "published" on the web and whatnot. The bottom line is this: facebook, twitter, and blogs seem to have encouraged and fostered an already burgeoning culture of narcissism. Some of us actually think that others care what we have to say!

Oh well, no one is forcing anyone to read any of this. I can only promise that I will try to communicate something of redeeming value in my posts. I don't want to post a blog to simply post a blog. In the meantime I encourage everyone to guard their precious time. God gave it to us, and it is a valuable resource to be used for His glory. Pick an choose the posts you read wisely and try not to communicate worthless, inane posts full of complaints and obvious facts.