Tick, tock

Tick tock, tick tock, Hook's afraid of an old crock. - a line summarized by Peter Pan when he confronts Captain Hook. We all know Hook to be the villain in the story. However if you think about it we know that we can be just like him from time to time. We all know that there's a point when we run out of time, you can buy it, you can't trade it, and you can't get anymore no matter how hard you try.

This is something that Captain Hook fights with trying to out run the crocodile and at the same time getting Peter Pan. Now at first look we think that Pan and Hook just don't like each other but Hook doesn't like Pan because in his words he doesn't show "good form." In other words Pan and the lost boys are wild and do whatever they like with little or no consequence, wile Hook always gets the bad end of the deal. I think we relate to Hook and Pan in different was at different times. We can't spend so much of our lives worrying about time that when we get old we wonder what happened, nor can we just go about doing any crazy thing we want just because we feel we can. Also we can't be so blind that we end up thinking we are just a good guy like Hook thought. That's right Hook would not have thought of himself as the villain he would tell you Pan was. Hook was educated businessman who lead his men through life. Pan did the same thing with his lost boys the key difference was that the boys never wanted to grow up and the men were not responsible enough to think things through clearly. 

Ephesians 5: 15-17 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is" 

I don't know if you have ever felt this way but I feel the older I get the faster the weeks, months, and years move. So I don't want to live afraid of time slipping away but take every opportunity that I get to live a life that in the end I would be happy how it was spent. Enjoy your friends and family wile you can, take nothing for granted.

We don't like No

What is necessary to change a person is 

to change his awareness of himself.

-Abraham Maslow

I don't know if anyone has ever told you no, but most of the time it is unpleasant. People in general don't like to be told no. In fact in writing this someone (a salesman) called me and because I did not want his services he hung up on me. Most would admit that wealthy people or people in charge really don't like being told no. How many wealthy people have gotten into trouble because someone told them no and they did not agree with it. 

Now what if I asked you if you were rich? You mite say that you don't consider yourself rich, but according to Andy Stanley's book "How to be Rich" if you make over $37,000 a year you are in the top 4% of the wealthiest people in the world. 

Crazy right!

It seems funny to consider that fact and yet still find it difficult to lead the kind of generous life Jesus called us to.

"Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes"

 -Mark 4:24-25

We like to have stuff, acquire more things, build our wealth. None of this is inherently bad, we must use caution though so we don't become consumed by getting instead of giving. Stanley in his book compared it to our appetite, once it gets going it is hard to satisfy. For me it would be like trying to eat just one potato/Doritos chip and then stopping. I can do it, but boy it's hard, I am unable to find contentment because I want more. 

This idea of not being satisfied is why at many restaurants the waiter brings out the try of desserts instead of just showing you the menu, they are trying to arouse the want inside of you so that you are not content with just the meal. 

This is why our appetites are not good for making decisions, we want to increase everything to give a scene of happiness. But we must continue to passionately pursue to live the generous life God called us to. 

"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears."

-Hebrews 12:14-17

click for more information about Andy Stanley's book "How to be rich"