Fear and Freedom

I've been known to do a lot of stupid things in my life. But, I consistently do those things as safely as possible. Before jumping off a thirty foot cliff into Laurel Lake, I swam around to check for rocks. See? I do stupid stuff. I do it safely!

There's no way to avoid risk in life. It's inherit. Like breathing, risk is one of those things which we can exhibit some control over, but we can't eliminate it and live. Even if we don't acknowledge it, it's always there. How many people do you know that are terrified of flying? Everyone knows a BA Baracus. Maybe it's you?

In 2009, Kentucky alone lost 791 residents in auto crashes. Worldwide, 685 lives were lost in aircraft accidents in the same time period. Even food poisoning accounts for nearly 5,000 deaths per year in the US. Logically, which one should we be more afraid of? I've given you a perfect reason to hate leftovers. Children everywhere can rejoice.

I love the promos for the nightly news, "Don't miss our top story at six. We'll tell you that something is killing your children!" CNN tells us to be afraid of Republicans. Fox News says we should fear Democrats. MSNBC is afraid of everyone. We can invite fear into our psyche by exposing ourselves to it. 

Don't let fear dominate your decision making process. It will hold you back and keep you from moving forward in fear of what might lay ahead. When you feel afraid, it's time to stop and examine your circumstances.

1. Identify the object of your anxiety. What is it?
2. Isolate the cause. Why does it make you feel afraid?
3. Evaluate objectively. Try to look beyond your emotional response. What are the facts about your situation?
4. Decide with a clear head. Don't rush an important decision. Time will help you to see more clearly.

Choose today to be free and leave fear behind.

Cookies and Juice!!!

I'm sure a lot of people won't understand the following statement. I love to donate blood. Really, it's something I look forward to doing every three months. It's the easiest way I can save a life.

Roughly equal to 2 units of blood

Do I love 14 gauge needles? Nope.
Do I like the hour or more it takes to complete a double red cell donation? Not really.
Do I do it for the free juice and cookies? Don't distract me, that's not what I'm going for here...

My inspiration to continually donate could have come from numerous places. Perhaps it comes from knowing that my father has been a blood recipient multiple times following surgery. It could be that I've seen trauma victims losing blood almost as fast as it could be forced into their veins. I also realize that I could somehow end up on the receiving end of a transfusion, and should that day come, I want a good supply of O+ on the shelf.

Quite a long time ago, God fulfilled his promise of a sacrifice that would suffice for the entirety of mankind. It wasn't a clean, nearly painless process of removing a little blood from Christ's veins. He was beaten, spit upon, and forced to carry his own cross. Hanging there, searing pain in His hands and feet, He gave freely to us, knowing that he could stop it if he wished. No air conditioning, an "I Gave Blood!" sticker, or cookies and juice; only a sponge soaked in vinegar and the curses of those watching him die.

I can't do anything to give someone eternal life, but I can make a difference today. As long as God keep it circulating, I'll keep donating.

Smoke

This is my first blog post. It's gonna' get weird, but try to stick with me...

Heat and smoke surrounded me as I knelt in front of the door just forced opened with a set of Irons. I was geared up, including my SCBA, so I didn't have trouble breathing. I shined my hand-light into the room before me. It just couldn't cut the smoke. Lowering my head to the doorstep, I looked under the smoke for any sign of life, holding my breath to better hear potential victim's voice. Heavy flames were coming from the window to my left, but still appeared to be contained to one room. This was a potentially survivable fire for anyone left inside. I crawled headfirst into the smoke.

I couldn't see more than a few inches as I felt my way through. My gloved hands became my eyes, guiding me in search of life. Sweeping with my extended arms as I went, I traced the outline of an empty chair, then a couch. Turning through a doorway, I felt something large and square. The dresser pulls rattled when I bumped it with my head. I couldn't be far away now.

I felt the corner of the bed, and raised up to reach as far across as I could. It too, gladly, was empty. Moments later, we were outside. The fire was knocked down. A ventilation fan was pushing smoke and steam out the windows. Looking inside with the flashlight again, I could clearly see everything I'd felt, and all the things I'd missed.

That's how my life has been; feeling my way through, trying to figure out what was in front of me at that moment, but never being able to see anything until I was on the other side.

For the first time, with prayers of support from my wife, friends, and the help of some of my favorite authors, God has given me eyes to see through the smoke in my life. My life's purpose is more clear to me now than ever. I'm surely not the only one to have ever felt this way. Pray for me, and those like me, that I can clear everything that clouds my vision of God's Will in my life.

If you're not familiar with these guys, check them out now!

Jon Acuff - Quitter
John Eldredge - Ransomed Heart