Eternal Perspective

The link in on this title is to a sermon that I read online (yeah weird huh) b/c I was searching for a little Christian advice on where to look in the bible for my next post. I actually already had a passage in mind, but I wanted to back it up with something a little more concrete.

AND OH BOY DID I HIT THE JACKPOT!

This sermon was very very necessary. I HIGHLY suggest, no matter how stressful/congested your day is take the 10mins to read it (it took me 20min, I'm such a slow reader). But on to the post....

Have you ever thought you could learn something Christ-like from corporate america? Yeah, me neither, but I kind of did. It was weird (ok, God is everywhere so why is this weird that he's at my job, idk, is he at your job?). But prior to a meeting with my boss, I thought I was on the road to doing it big. I was in charge of my on web project, developing features that were requested, but not expected, and cleaning up the code. I was kind of ready to tell my boss all the wonderful things I was doing and going to wait for him to congratulate me and give me that proverbial pat on the back..........but that didn't happen of course. The mtg ended up being one that allowed me to see that I was only touching the state that is in the same body of water as the TIP of the iceberg (yeah I was real far from the bigger picture). After I sat done I realized that I had siloed myself into my project, my work, my progress and forgot about the larger machine that's generated cash flows around me.

This alluded to my shortsighted perspective (geez, its bad enough I gotta where contacts, plus they extra-strength, so u know i'm blind). But even more it made me think of the even bigger picture beyong my business stream, my job, my company, even corp. america. It made me think of my eternal perspective.

The day before I was reading the passage about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well with the many "husbands."Jesus was on his way to Galilee and had to pass through Samaria. Homeboy stopped real quick for a drink, and then got "side-tracked" into talking to this girl and saving mad Samaritans.

Now Jesus was on a mission before he got to Samaria, but he dropped his plans and started on his eternal mission. It's not that odd when you read it the way I wrote it, but if you read the passage, it seems like Jesus just be talking to any 'ole body and don't never get nowhere "on time."

But the point is his perspective. He's not looking at the little matters at hand (i.e. going to Galilee to clarify some rumors) but focusing on God's perspective (saving lives).

After I read that sermon, this all was way too clear. I started thinking how does my day to day really fall into the bigger picture. I still don't have an answer for that, but I'm thinking in realtion to my previous post about community programs, I'm headed in the right direction.

Even more so, this blog. The initial purpose of this blog was for me to get on my Jesus game and couple personal posts with biblical teachings/experiences that I've learned and had. So with in that respect, I really really really encourage you to read that sermon. I can't give you everything he said, but I'll summarize just to wet your taste.

The sermon focuses on the Beattitudes, (principles or characteristics [if you will....is that annoyin Maisha] on how every Christian should be/live). It highlights the importance of maintaing a divine perspective throughout ur day to day in order to keep your joy.

Without a divine perspective in my circumstances, I'll lose the ability to walk in trust and obedience.

And it outlined the three basic things that attack your joy: circumstance, people, and things/status.

And it also had this ill definition (if you will) of being "blessed."

The blessedness spoken of by Jesus implies an inner satisfaction, joy and sufficiency that doesn't depend on outward circumstances for happiness. What Jesus meant by 'blessed' didn't have anything to do with the external things of life.

Through all of this I am in no position to tell people to keep ya head up, cuz I got it way too good to say that and make it effective. Instead I'll encourage you to maintain an eternal perspective...

...if you're not at the right job you want (eZ)
...if you're having troubles with recent move (Kez)
...or if you're tired of doing your day to day w/o knowing it's true purpose (J-r-uh)

I know yall aint stressed that hard, but just keep this message in mind and "pay it forward."


if God could Bless you like he does that who are persecuted, would you want it....that means people will hate you, though....you still want it?
-R


p.s. what does it mean to be "poor in spirit" (Matt 5)