The concept of "Can't"

Often the word "can't" is used. For some this word is a comfort, it is a way to explain away a lack of desire, effort, or ambition. We squish our own chances of becoming influential by allowing this fearful word to rule life. The power given to this word makes little to no sense. "Can't" expresses a self-imposed barrier between oneself and a goal.

What exactly is "can't" or "cannot"? It is the opposite of "can", meaning that if someone said they can do something this indicates an ability to do and if someone said they can't do something then this indicates an inability to do. Physical limitations are often appealed when the word "can't" is used. "Can't" appeals to the old human practice of passing the blame to someone else, it is as though when we say "can't" the words are silently accompanied by "I can't and it is not my fault!"

I challenge anyone to think of an instance in which "can't" actually applies. When someone is actually unable to do something. Most of the time, "can't" is used improperly. "Can't" can only be used in situations when it is actually impossible to accomplish the task. Of course this is a perfect opportunity to say two things:
1. All things are possible with God
2. Unless all avenues of possible completion have been attempted, "can't"

Hundreds of thousands of examples can be thought of demonstrating individuals who refused to believe in "can't".
Two quick examples to think about:
I physically cannot fly...or can I?
Prior to the Wright Brother's innovation, flight was out of the question for humanity. To soar like the birds seemed like a wishful daydream.
Thomas Edison has been made famous due to his hundreds of failures prior to his great success.
The Wright Brother's faced physical limitations, but overcame "can't" by recognizing that "can't" really was "won't".
Thomas Edison faced continual failure, but overcame "can't" by recognizing that "can't" really was "won't".

The reality of "can't" is the reality of "won't". Most of the time we won't do something, it is not an issue of can't. We should not hide behind can't. Confront your own "won't"s and who knows what amazing thing you will be inspired to accomplish.

To Lansing We Go!!!

Things are finally coming together. Jacob and I have been praying that we would be able to find jobs in Lansing so we could move there and help with Providence as well as gain great learning experiences. We also said that it would be hardest for Amy to find a job since she is so picky about her jobs and really wants to work with kids. Well our prayers have been answered!! Amy has received a nanny position in Holt Michigan for a family with two children. We are so happy and excited to know that we are suppose to be in Lansing and for one of us to have a job. Please continue to pray for a job for Jacob so we can save Amy's salary.

Another big event has happened this past week, which was moving all of amy's things as well as our furniture into a storage unit in Lansing! The next step is to find an apartment and sign a lease and hopefully move our belongings in by August 15th. Please continue to pray for us as we find jobs and move into our new home in the future.

There was a topic discussed in Sunday School that has peeked my interest and is what I will be focusing on. During Sunday School we were reading John 4 which is the story of the Samaritan women at the well. While this story was being read by Pastor H. the rest of us were packing mints into bags with business cards. We were focusing on how Jesus evangelized to the women and at the same time were packing bags to hand out to people to evangelize ourselves. There were many topics that came up during this lesson, such as how do we evangelize to individuals? What if someone is depressed then what do we do?
These questions lead to Matthew 7:6 which states "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Biblegateway.com NIV) You could look at this verse and say why should I spend my time evangelizing, why should I spend a minute with people that I don't think will listen to me anyways. But in order to get the entire context of the message you need to look at verse 1-5 which state "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.³"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Biblegateway.com)
Taking the entire passage we can see that we are not meant to judge individuals, and therefore we are not meant to chose we evangilize too. The verse about the swine empathizes that not everyone is meant to be in Heaven and become believers, and that there will come a point when we see that an individual isn't going to hear our message and we must leave and find someone else. But just because that individual isn't hearing the message of Salvation from us does not mean that is it not suppose to be heard, it just means that our time should not be spent throwing our pearls to the pig because now is not the right time.

Reading Matthew 7 lead me to think about judgement and how judgmental people are. I have always heard that I am a stuck up Chrisitian and "perfect" and because of that no one wants to listen to me. They felt judged based on the way I was acting toward them. This is one area that I have been working on and must say I have improved greatly in since high school. Although I have done better, I still tend to judge individuals based on their clothes, hair, and overall looks. Judgment is one of the worst sins that Christians commit. Because we judge, people look at us and say why should I listen to them they aren't like me they are "perfect" (even though in reality we are not).
Christians have acquired a bad reputation in our society today because we act like we are better then everyone else and judge everybody. We tend to think that we know who we want in our church and want to be friends with, we don't want that stinky man with unshaven face in our church. We want the nice clean shaven polite man that wears a suite to church every Sunday. Whether we admit it or not the church you belong to is a huge click, and within that click are smaller clicks, and unbelievers coming into your church SEE that. Believers in your church that are considered outsiders see that. Although I attended my childhood church for ten years, I did not belong in the click and because of that had resentment and hate towards my church and God. As Christians we need to be aware of our judgmental attitudes and clicks and end them.
We need to realize that it is not up to us to choose who comes to God or choose who we want in our church based on looks and personality. We are not called to preach to the people who we schedule in our daily planners or evangelize to the person who comes knocking on our door, rather we ARE called to share the gospel with everyone, including those who we schedule and those who God schedules for us. In order for Christians to evangelize more fully according to our comission from Christ, we need to overcome the stereotype that we are "perfect" individuals that only want the "perfect" person in our church. We need to stop judging others and start sharing God's word.

While thinking about judgment, I came across a song from Casting Crowns called "If we are the Body". Here is the you tube link that you should listen to before continuing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4wojcSO9Ww

This song is a great song and one that Christians need to listen to and take action. The entire song is about how judgmental Christians are and the feelings that unbelievers have when they enter a church. This song creates a "perfect" picture of how judgmental and uppity Christians can be.


"If we are the body"

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in
Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat
And quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances
Are better out on the road

CHORUS
But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the Body of Christ

Chorus (2x)
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus is the way

For some of you reading, you are members in the body, let us begin and continue to reach out with our arms, run swiftly with our feet, and speak lovingly to those whom God schedules us to evangelize to. We are the body, let us use our body parts to do the work of Christ.

Amy

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day! We hope everyone is enjoying their celebrations with family and friends.