Dirty jobs

There are jobs nobody wants. There is an entire TV show about jobs that are disgusting, sick, tough and not easy. Most people watching the TV show Dirty Jobs do not think about going and doing the jobs they see on the show. We all had jobs that are dirty and not fun to be at, what makes a dirty job to you?

When we go through these jobs, we want out. Nobody wants to say my job is to clean the bathrooms at Taco Bell or a gas station, but someone has too. There are jobs that are tough on the individual and some people do it for others benefits. Christianity could go up here.

Having faith is not always an easy job. It’s tough to live by a different standard and hard when you fall short of that standard. I give Christians in high school and college a lot of respect. It’s not easy when you are trying to figure life on your own and you get made fun of/treated like a joke because of your beliefs. Life isn’t always easy, but God never said it would be.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13…

“To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world-right up to this moment.”

This is talking about the apostles. The ones closest to Jesus and this is the life they live. It didn’t say they lived close to Jesus and life was always happy, happy, happy. Life is tough, putting your faith on display for the world isn’t easy. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean life is going to get any easier, chances are it’s going to get harder. Sometimes being an apostle was a tough and a dirty job. Yet they didn’t quit.

Fill in this statement, when life gives you lemons….the first thing in my head is make lemonade. Life is not easy, it’s tough and a challenge, so is following Christ. Christ did nothing wrong and was put on the cross. Life doesn’t always go your way, and can be tough. Through the bad times hang in there.

Following Christ isn’t always easy, but the apostles hung in there. They were persecuted, put on display, lived poor and were beaten yet they didn’t give up. Don’t give up on life or on faith. If it was easy everyone would do it. There is beauty and a time to grow when you go through hardships. The apostles didn’t give up on faith through all they endured and Jesus didn’t give up on them.

There was a line I heard last night at CIY. “When you are angry and scream out, so does God. When you are hurt and in pain, so is God, he is right there with you.” Don’t give up on Jesus because he does not give up on you. I would not be the person I am today without Jesus. The  trials I have faced in my life don’t touch the surface of what the apostles dealt with, but I know I will endure pain for faith and it’s worth it.

Sometimes we have dirty jobs and we put up with the bad for the good. I will take refuge knowing that Jesus is there for me and he can be there for you too! Have a great day.

Why are you doing it, your never going to make it

There is time when utter determination matters.

Some of the greatest inventions and things we use on an everyday basis were made by people that ended up broke and unnoticed.

Charles Goodyear started the tire and spent his life broke.

He died 40 years before Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded.

He spent his entire life working on a product that left him broke but he believed he could do.

He eventually did, but it was after his death that it took off.

I am glad he stuck through it because I like tires and I couldn’t imagine driving on anything else (Until the future looks like it does in Back to the Future 2).

There is something about a determination that people can’t stop.

I ran a marathon in 2000.

I am not saying this to gloat but to tell you what happened before.

Usually you are supposed to take it easy in running before a marathon.

I had one of my biggest cross country meets of the year the day before.

After running that race I was talking to a family member and told them I had to get ready to go to Detroit for the marathon.

This person told me, “Joel, I don’t understand why you are doing it, you’re never going to make it.”

“Thanks,” I said while laughing.

Four hours and nineteen minutes the next day I finished the marathon.

Sometimes people do not know or understand determination.

Sports scientist looked at what it takes to hit a major league pitcher and came to the conclusion the ball came way to fast and in many different directions.  With human brain signals, there is no physical way the body should relay signals to be able to hit a baseball with the bat.

Crazy how that was said and it doesn’t happen that way.

Faith is the same way.

People have doubt for 2,000 years Christianity wouldn’t make it.

Apostles were just jailed for sharing Jesus.

The Sanhedrin wanted them dead before one named Gamaliel spoke up.

He said this in Acts 36, 38-39…

“Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing…Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

They decided not to kill the apostles (They were still flogged).

Even through the pain of being flogged the apostles continued to sharing Jesus and rejoiced that they could suffer for a cause they believed in.

Do you suffer for a cause you believe in?

The apostles never stopped.

They kept preaching the good news of Jesus.

Determination, the apostles had it.

Do we have the same.

There are things I am determined to do in life.

Being a better husband and father.

Serve God to the best of my abilities.

Improve showing love and grace to all people.

What are you determined to do?

What has slowed you down from doing that?

Goodyear didn’t give up and 40 years after he died, he succeed.

What do you want to succeed in today?

What are you doing to go for what you want?

The apostles wanted to share Jesus and not even flogging could stop them.

What has stopped you?

What can you do to stay determined?

Have a great day.