We Don't Even Have To Try To Lust

Sometimes when someone acts cold-hearted and cruel toward you, it is at that precise time when God begins to use you most. I am a slow learner by nature and when someone is mean to me I sometimes want to cry and run the other way. However crying and running away isn't as easy to do when you share the same work space. I am speaking for a moment about Peter whom I see each day at work. I am not using Peter's real name in this story but it's true and continues to unfold each day.

When I first met Peter a few months ago, he did not greet me nor would he talk to me except to express his great and deep displeasure for me being in his presence. A few words to describe Peter come to mind: rude, condescending and just plain angry. On that particular day, I was attempting to be friendly by asking his name and introducing myself but he would have none of that. Instead it was made clear I could however refer to him using a profane cussword name and that’s all I needed to know---end of discussion. I replied back in as direct and deliberate tone as I could manage being the shy guy I am and told Peter I would not refer to him that way because "I don't work that way". It was clear to me, I was afraid of Peter. It also became rather obvious (through the help of my girlfriend) what was going on in this situation. Peter was attempting to use a commonly used tactic called intimidation. He was going to be the big bully just like it was back in elementary school. Realizing this, I did not want him to win. But how? I believed this to be a spiritual battle and at that moment, with God's working in my life and in Peter's, I prayed that God was going to do something miraculous for His glory and honor.


Peter's stern concrete tone and no-nonsense work ethics continued for months since I recall my first shocking encounter with him. Up until recently, I have been nearly certain he hated me and all those who cross his path.
Within the past couple weeks, Peter has done something I never would've imagined him to do. He has been talking to me and actually trying to gain my interest rather than drive me away. Within the past day or so we've hit on something we have in common and struggle with. It is especially difficult for men and that is: lust. I sensed immediately the Holy Spirit was prompting me to make it clear to Peter that Jesus looks at lust as adultery in the heart and since all guys struggle with this we can't get off the hook for breaking God's holy righteous standard seen in the Ten Commandments. Peter agreed; lust is something we do and it comes naturally ---we don't even have to try to lust. I wanted to explain the consequences for breaking God's holy commands and the way of escape through Jesus Christ and the cross but we were quickly interrupted. The neat thing is that I can clearly sense that Peter is trying to be kinder toward me especially since our short conversation about lust. He hasn't yelled at me or attempted to bite my head off lately. Amazing? I believe this is a spiritual battle and God is working here for His glory and honor. Nothing is impossible with God. I believe the Lord is preparing Peter's heart for the Good News of Jesus Christ and preparing mine for the best possible way and time to be able to share it!

"I am not ashamed of the gospel [of Jesus Christ], because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16
I pray this is true for you and I each day.

I Usually Ignore it or Just Turn it Off

Ahhh....there it is....the infamous riiiiinnngggging sound.....or in my girlfriend's case, you'd hear..."Reada your phone is ringing"...."Sweetheart I'm calling you"..you get the idea..(her phone talks) ....but whatever sound you hear when someone calls you...it's probably coming from the cell phone. However, in rare instances there might not be any sound or tone when someone calls you, especially if you don't have a cell phone at all or...as is the case for me many times... it's off.
Ok....so this brings me to why I'm writing this web log entry.
I will be honest, I don't like the phone most of the time. I'm sure you have an opinion about it too. The beauty of the cell phone is that one can have some control as how much of life will revolve around it. Being the private kinda guy I am, it works out to be able to let the voicemail take over and I can evaluate each situation when someone calls me. And thats another reason I don't enjoy the phone much.

Whether you notice it or not, each time someone calls you, you are being forced to make a decision as to whether or not you want to answer it and then you must decide what you'll say when the person tells you they want something from you which is usually why they call anyways isn't it? Ok, ok...maybe not all the time...but nevetheless, I prefer to let well enough alone and just talk once in awhile to a family member or friend and if they don't want to talk...thats fine with me cause I know they probably have more exciting things to do than talk on the phone to someone who lives 1000's of miles away from them.

Also, I find it's nice to be able to not allow work interfere with family time when you don't want it to. You can simply turn the phone off. I think I may have liked living in the days before the phone......wait....but then the internet wouldn't have been around and I may still find myself single....
Let me ask you....what do you think of the phone, particularly the cell phone?