I Don't Know About That

So I am gonna double dip today because both of these have been on my heart recently (waiting and obedience). In college I tried to sit down and read some of A.W. Tozer's (known to many as just Tozer) works and I just could not get through it. However, I have been getting back into it and ran across this from Tozer, "There is something basically wrong with our Christianity and our spirituality if we can carelessly presume that if we do not like a biblical doctrine and choose not to 'buy' it, there is no harm done...The final test of love is obedience. Not sweet emotions, not willingness to sacrifice, not zeal, but obedience to the commandments of Christ. Our Lord drew a line plain and tight for everyone to see."
I know this is something I have struggled with where I read something in the Word and I disregard it because it was too far out there or something I felt I could not do. Then there are other times where I truly struggle and wrestle and try to grasp it and comprehend it. The struggle and wrestling can take a long time as I process what is being said. However, if we can freely disregard certain passages, doesn't that go against what 2 Timothy 3:16 says in saying that "ALL scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." The other example coming to my mind is the story of Samuel correcting Saul in 1 Samuel 15 where he says that obedience is of way more importance than burnt offerings and sacrifices.
So in thinking about both of these (waiting and obedience), it comes down to control and submission to God.

The Waiting Game

No one seems to enjoy playing the waiting game. It is incredibly difficult especially in this microwave society. Everyone wants it like yesterday. That is part of the problem with consumer debt because kids want what their parents have now but they don't realize that it took x number of years to get that (That's another discussion at another time).
Anyways, God's time doesn't seem to work in our time period so we must wait or move irrationally and make a bad choice or decision. I know I've done this because the waiting is never fun. However, when you are waiting on God, it truly is a surrender because you are saying that your ways are better than my ways and you know what is best for me. This weekend, Ken Priddy referenced Psalm 46:10 which says, "Be still and know that I am God!" Loosely translated, relax or chill, I got this because you know I am God. Trust me.
God also brought this to my remembrance as well as I am in a waiting state, Isaiah 40:28-31:

Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

So my prayer for anyone playing the waiting game is that you will trust in the Lord and be given new strength. The wait is worth it...

Go Nuts!

So tonight is the opening night of baseball again for Richmond after a two year hiatus. I am pretty stoked about the Flying Squirrels and seeing some of them up on the parent team, the Giants in San Francisco. The game tonight is sold out and I am really looking forward to this new chapter in Richmond baseball. The excitement is here and I can feel it. I just hope it just stays around and is not a short lived thing and is gone once the novelty has worn off. However, in my time in Richmond, I have found that Richmond just does not support professional sports. I hope this time is different, but only time will tell. GO NUTS!!!