Pig Tushy Hair Potion

WARNING: **Content may include reference to pig tushy hair**

I bought a new man voice at Kwik Trip

Humility in the Face of the Adversary

To start off this page I would like to explain a bit about my "normal" Sunday routine. On the average Sunday, my schedule involves waking up far too early,(like 7:00am) getting all of my church stuff ready, and heading out for Sunday morning church service.

Recently the men of the Durie family have started a weekly bible study, taking place Sunday afternoons. Grandpa and I had met in the past for bible studies, and we just thought it would be a great idea to start meeting again. But why not include the rest of the dudes? The guys involved are Grandpa, Dad, Uncle Darrell, my cousin Elijah, my brother Colton, my brother Gideon, and I. We try to meet ever Sunday possible, unless someone gets sick or has another event.

Ever since we started this study God has showed me so many things through His Word. The results of simply reading His Word are shocking, and totally awesome. A lot of the things God has been speaking to me about lately are things that He has already showed me. But living in a sinful world, and dwelling in selfish and prideful body and mind I easily forget God's Word. I feel that the only way to remember the things He teaches, and really thrive is to constantly be reading it, memorizing it, and meditating on it. Dad brought up a quote today that I really like.

"The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible."  D.L. Moody

So, if you are not walking in the Word, you will be living in sin. Even if you are saved. If we are walking in the Word daily, it will be harder to sin. It will be easier to say NO to temptation, and YES to obedience. Once we stop reading the Bible, the evil of the world starts to work on us. We are easily deceived by the lies of the world. Without truth, we are going to start molding to the ways of the world.

God speaks to us in new ways each time we read the same verse. For me, often I will read a verse, interpret it a certain way, then read it again later, and get even more out of it. There is such a thing as the Holy Ghost, and He does speak to us through His Word beyond just the plain text. He speaks to our hearts. Not that we should go overboard, and change the meaning of the Scriptures. God forbid that! Eh...I am kinda really off track right now so I will continue.

Today we read Matthew 5:17-26. The verses that really stood out to me today were verses 21-26

"You have heard that is was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny."

Reading the MacArthur study notes on verse 25, there was a reference to Corinthians 6:7 Being a reference to just one verse I wanted to go back a little bit and read the big picture. So I read Corinthians 6:1-8.


"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? ² Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? ⁴ If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? ⁵ I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? ⁶ But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
⁷ Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? ⁸ No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!" 
  
Through all of this I realize that we are often offended. Really often. We are often annoyed. Really often. We are often cheated, we are often wronged. Really often. But, we often offend, annoy, cheat, and wrong people ourselves. More than we even realize probably. We need to be slow to anger, slow to inappropriate behavior, and according to verse 25 of Matthew 5, we need to be quick to make it right with the person. Even if it means sacrificing something, whether it be sacrificing the pride of being right, or the right of being right even if you are right. Even if you didn't sin, and were wronged by someone, it is just plain better to make it right rather than to hold bitterness toward that person. Even if they never have a change of heart. Better to make peace between you and your adversary swiftly than to hold harsh feelings of hatred, distaste, or fear. 

God is telling me to be nice. He is telling me to place higher priority on reconciliation than on justice. He is telling me to just give it up for good reasons. The more I think about it the more obvious it is. To be kind, or to be bitter? To be patient, or to be short? To be forgiving, or to hold a grudge? 

Hey, what would Jesus do? I think Jesus would be kind, patient, and forgiving. Actually, I know he would. So, it is clear to me the way I need to treat others, even when wronged, whether of big or small offense. 

I kinda need to work on this.

Actually...

I really need to work on this.

So, I will work on this. It is going to take time, prayer, and dropping selfish feelings. But God commands this of us. And God is with us every single step! We need to show humility, we need to be kind. Even to the face of our greatest human adversaries on earth. I don't really have any super big enemies in life, but I sure do need to show more kindness. I feel like I am totally repeating stuff over and over again.

Don't worry, about a thing.

Hey!

I've been thinking.

Thinking some more.

And

Freaking out.

A lot!

I am going to be graduating this spring, and turning eighteen this fall. That being said I realized I need a game-plan for my adult life. At least, one for the immediate future, so that I can support myself as life unfolds. How does a man know what to do with his life?

It's so hard to know.

But yet so easy!

Just ask yourself this question: What am I living for?  Ultimately the answer to this question should make your game-plan in life very clear. Because what you live for,(Your life goals, greatest passions, and sole purpose) is what you should be chasing in life. Ultimately a man will try to satisfy himself in life, with the things that he loves, and will do whatever he needs to in order to get them. If you are living for sports...football? Then seriously, your game-plan in life will probably involve joining an NFL team, or just getting whatever job, and following a team being the perfect fan. I'm sorry...that really wasn't a good example...Hmm...Jimmy is unsaved. He is 18 and now he is an adult, and he is about to enter his adult life, and his biggest passion is money. He loves money and expensive things. He loves popularity. So he decides to go to college, in order to try to get a good job, so that he can live a comfy life and buy all of the things that he desires. He gets his master's degree in rocket science,(Haha) and starts earning millions. He buys a mustang and a mansion. Seems like his sole goal and purpose in life is to please himself with nice things, as well as to invent a super-duper rocket with special science enabling it to fly to the neighbor galaxy and start a colony there on planet Yuorgamenstz.

What am I living for? What is my sole purpose in life here on earth? Being a Christian, my greatest purpose in life is to serve God. To follow Him and be obedient to His will. To praise Him. To glorify Him. A sinner saved by grace should have a passion to do the bidding of the Lord, and to not hesitate to listen and act on the calling of the Lord. Whether we want to or not, us Christians need to obey the calling of the Holy Spirit. So, that being said, my game-plan in life needs to praise and glorify God. It needs to involve pleasing the Lord and living for the purpose of doing His divine bidding.

So I have been praying a lot about it, asking God to show me what I should do. The first thing that comes to mind when trying to live a God centered life is becoming a missionary-evangelist to another country. It is a very sacrificial life, for the purpose of reaching and helping the lost across the world, with the gospel as well as supporting education and helping provide food. Ultimately to spread the gospel though. Being a missionary is a very good way to serve God, and it is by all means necessary. We need missionaries. I have considered being a missionary, but I just don't feel God calling me in that direction. I realize that here in America, there is just as much need for the gospel as other countries. Also, most missionaries are supported by churches. So missionaries need churches, and churches need missionaries. They are both good and essential. We do need to reach other countries with the gospel. But we also need to keep reaching America, and keep churches running throughout America. If every Christian in America decided to be a missionary, how would there be any support for them?

Mark 16: 15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 

Matthew 28: 19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The meanings of these verses seem very clear to me. As Christians and disciples of God we need to go into the whole world and teach people the gospel, as well teaching the rest of the commandments in the bible. We need to reach people throughout the world.

The United States of America is part of this world. We are by no means a nation not to be reached. So I have prayed about this a lot, and put a LOT of thought and meditation on the topic...As of now, I do not feel a calling to be a full time missionary to a third-world/foreign country. This may change! The Lord speaks to us in strange ways and often quite suddenly. One day you might feel you know exactly what you are meant to do, and the next day you may feel a strong calling in a different area. I don't know...maybe I am not making any sense. But anyway...as of now I feel a calling to evangelize and preach to America, as well as serve in a church. I would like to go on some missions trips! I have never been on one and it sounds really interesting! I think it would be a good experience.

Alright!

Game-plan so far: To finish and graduate highschool, keep working with Durie Electric LLC, and keep studying electrical theory as well as code, in order to be ready to take my journeyman's test after five years of field experience. Attend and serve a church. I am currently attending First Baptist Church in Waupaca. I hope to go on some missions trips this 2014. I really hope there is an opportunity. One of the ways I would like to serve is with music! I LOVE MUSIC!!

If God has a different purpose for me in this life here on earth, I have no doubt he will make it very clear to me! The Lord is in complete control.

Anyway, I have been spending a lot of time on this post. I need to go finish the chores I haven't done yet, and study stuff, stuff, and more stuff. Like my least favorite subject: History, and much more fun: Mathematics of Finance.

Take care.

Pre-Easter Madness

Ok, time to post something for real. I had quite the interesting day today. The day before Easter usually gets us all thinking about the Easter bunny, colorful eggs, too much candy, and most importantly: How Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, and ascended into heaven; and of how He was crucified, and murdered on the cross to pay cost we owe for our sin. He took it all on Himself because he loves us. He died....But then rose again! So we can rejoice, and be glad that God has a perfect plan to save His lost children. I know, I know...we all know the story right? Well, at least most of you reading this have heard the story of Christ. But what better time to think of it and remember what Christ did for us, and of His resurrection and victory over sin. The story never gets old for me. It makes me want to cry with joy. It makes me want to meet the Trinity and fall on my face crying and singing.

I ate sardines and dill pickles for lunch today.

For those of you who doubt that the Easter bunny exists...You would never believe me if not for modern digital photos. I SAW THE EASTER BUNNY. I totally met him, and he is big and fuzzy.

                                         This is a really rare picture of the Easter bunny. 5k$

There was a candy hunt in Big Falls today, my siblings participated.

Including Johnny.

Dad as well.

Rosalie

Liam

 We also painted eggs this evening! It didn't work the best because the eggs were still wet, but we had fun. They will make a good Sunday morning breakfast before church. 

Miranda: "You used up all the blue!" Liam: "I know."

 

This is the face of a true artist. Notice how her hand applies just enough pressure to the egg to make a perfect look? Pro.

Can't color enough eggs!

Emma's exotic dabbing technique

                                                Happy Easter!

Legit First Post Ever

Don't judge me. Just because I look weird doesn't make me creepy. o_O