A day in the life of...Mark Williams

3 random thoughts about changes in perspective

I used to say, "I watch college football b/c it's pure.  They don't play for the money."  Well.....I can't really say that any more.  Because it isn't true.  My perspective has changed because the reality has changed.  It is about the money.  Maybe directly.  Maybe indirectly.  But for most, it's about the money. Change of perspective. 

I'm reading in Job right now in my Bible reading.  Job's perspective changed when everything was taken from him, including his family.  His outlook changed.  What used to be important was no longer important.  Change of perspective. 

When our life situation has changed, our perspective changes.  When we find out our health situation has changed, our perspective on life changes....usually very quickly.  When a new child enters our life, our perspective changes.  You can prepare some for this, but never completely.  When life changes around us, our perspective changes.  And you can be guaranteed this, life changes.  It's good to have a different perspective.  That's what gives us a view of the world through others' eyes.  I am reminded that our paths are all different.  And we can learn a lot from looking at the path that someone else has walked down. 

 

All In

All In.  This phrase can mean so much.  Hold nothing back.  Give everything you have.  Do what it takes.  We use this phrase when talking to our staff at camp.  We want to be All In so others that are at camp will be "All In" too.  If you lead out in something, the leaders have to be All In, if we expect others to give everything as well. 

I've been leading a study on Francis Chan's book Forgotten God.  He makes a statement in regards to giving up everything if we were asked to.  And he goes along the thought of "it's harder to be All In the longer we live this life....because we have more".  When we have little, going All In isn't as hard.  And very few of us in America fall into that category. 

Think about it.  We start building up our American dream.  The family, the kids, the dog.  The comfortable living.  The necessities are just a short trip to WalMart or Target.  Most of us aren't worrying whether our roof is going to leak or not.  Most of us aren't worried whether we're going to have a meal for breakfast, lunch, or supper.  No thought that there wouldn't be food at the house in the pantry or refrigerator.  Matter of fact, we have so much that we buy an "extra freezer".  I do.  I've got an extra freezer.  Please understand, I'm not against these things.  I just think that when I think about answering the question, "Would you be willing to give this up?" I think it's harder to say yes because of what I've become accustomed to. 

We have a road ahead of us when we follow Christ that isn't an easy one.  I don't see in scripture where people were called to comfort.  They simply answered the call of "Follow Me".  That plays out different for different people around the world.  But there is a commonality among all Christ followers, and that is we are called to deny ourselves.  And sometimes I struggle with that.  I suspect I'm not the only one.  My prayer is that I will constantly be following Jesus, and ready to say "Yes...I'm willing".