Abundant Life

Last night at The Porch JP got real with ALL in attendance... It was one of the MOST real, MOST honest, talks I've ever witnessed at The Porch and it's on JP's current series about Life Redefined...  There was a lot in last night's messaged that challenged me.  JP focused most of his message on what he described later, "if sex and parties brought sustaining joy, then hookers and alcoholics would be the most fulfilled people on earth."  Any one, despite there religious beliefs would not look at a hooker or an alcoholic and say, "man I wish I had her life" or "things must be going really good for him."  Instead, you would probably look at him or her and ask what happened that drug them to that point?  What was so bad that they turned to sex with strangers for money and drowning their sorrows in alcohol?

As JP described last night, they got knocked off the path.  We as humans get distracted by the ways of the world and think that other things that bring temporary pleasure can replace the pleasure of everlasting joy.  An example that JP used really effected one of my guy friends when we were talking after.  If you have been married you can probably relate; if you haven't been married, be prepared.  There will be days that you wake up and you don't like your spouse.  Crazy huh?  This person that you were crazy in love, head over heels for, married, took vows before God that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, someday you may not like them?  The sad part about it is, when most people promise for better or for worse, they really only mean for the better. And when the worse comes along they give up (hints why America's divorce rates are so high).  During his message, JP admitted there are times he has to think about his wife Monica and how good of a mother she is to their children and what great character she has, and how everyone around her loves her.. not going to lie, I don't think many girls had a dry I in the house when he was talking about his wife and all the reasons he loved her.  But THEN he related that to how we are with our faith.. We have moments where we "don't like" God because he tells us to refrain from things that we think bring us pleasure- parties, sex, drugs, alcohol- and we have to remind our self what God did for us to love him again.

One of my favorite love movies is Meet Joe Black.  I am not saying it is the greatest movie, but it is a good movie about the tough decisions we make when we love somebody.  If you are a guy or a girl and have not seen it, I highly recommend it.  The movie has a lot of really good one liners and quotes.  Look at this dialogue when "Joe" has decided to stay and be with "William's" daughter..

Joe Black: I don't care Bill. I love her.

William Parrish: How perfect for you - to take whatever you want because it pleases you. That's not love.

Joe Black: Then what is it?

William Parrish: Some aimless infatuation which, for the moment, you feel like indulging - it's missing everything that matters.

Joe Black: Which is what?

William Parrish: Trust, responsibility, taking the weight for your choices and feelings, and spending the rest of your life living up to them. And above all, not hurting the object of your love.

Joe Black: So that's what love is according to William Parrish?

William Parrish: Multiply it by infinity, and take it to the depth of forever, and you will still have barely a glimpse of what I'm talking about.

 I have put in italics some lines I think are important.  But do you see the selfishness in all that?  The 'I don't care' and wanting to be with William's daughter Susan even though she does not know who he is.  Though she is under a false pretense.  For the record, that is not love.. not to your friends... your family... or your spouse.

And another one,

Joe Black: ...But Allison loves you?

Quince: [Quince nods yes between stifled sobs]

Joe Black: How do you know?

Quince: Because she knows the worst thing about me and it's okay.

~ crazy because God knows EVERYTHING about us and still loves us, everything.  If you're not married, is there anyone else you can say that about?  If you are married, my prayer is that you can say that about your spouse.  I've said before "best friends know your worst qualities and still love you."  Your spouse should be your best friend too.

And One of my favorites, spoken by Anthony Hopkins character, William Parrish:

     "Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."

But the thing about this quote is it's not JUST about your heart.  Don't just follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived. Instead you have lead your heart. What would it look like to apply that same passion for love to God, to the things that pleased him?

OK, now back to my friend, who I'll call Bill, he was uncomfortable with the fact that someday if he gets married that there will be times he doesn't like his wife.  But I told him, LOVE is a choice.  Everyday you have to wake up and you have to make the choice, to decide that you love your wife, or husband.  You have to ask God to lead your heart to love him or her everyday.  When I was in my sophomore year of college I attended a bible study called, "The Excellent Wife".  Chapter 9 in that book is titled, 'Love- The Wife's Choice'.  Love isn't easy.. Marriage isn't easy.. but you choose to love someone everyday, to work at it.  And guess what?  In the end, it pays off... (or so I have heard, having never been married myself).

If you are in a serious dating relationship, engaged, or married and have not seen Fireproof you need to go buy it tonight.  It will put a new perspective on your relationship and do amazing things for the two of you.  I guarantee.  "Marriage isn't fireproof.  Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it."  

And it's the same with life.  If you have been saved, it does not mean that you do not wonder off the path, that you don't make mistakes.  It just means that when you do mess up, you are quicker to fix the issue, to get back on track.  And you wonder off the track less.

We have no control over what comes our way, but we can be thankful for the grace, mercy, and blessings bestowed upon us each day.  Additionally, we should be responsible stewards over the gifts we have been given.  We must continue to pursue the prize with purpose, excellence, integrity, and humility.  The way we live our lives is our thank you to the Creator for His kindness.  Today, appreciate the grace and goodness in your gifting, and remember where it comes from.