by Aarron Pina | May 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
The challenge with getting someone to sober up is convincing them that they’re drunk.
Lifeguards, pastors, and counselors are all cautioned at some point about the danger of “double drowning”. If someone is thrashing madly in the water, in their pain, in their mess and you get too close to them, you run the risk of being sucked into their trouble and becoming part of it. In the water, you could be struck unconscious by the flailing victim, and you’d both drown, hence the term. In pastoring and counseling, you have to maintain a professional distance that encourages the addict but discourages the addiction, or you become part of a system of people that either keeps an addict sick or pulls you into their addiction.
The trouble with addicts is, most of us don’t believe we’re drowning. Most of us are so used to choking on water and flailing around, we think that’s just how swimming goes. When confronted about our addictive behavior, we defend and/or minimize it – “I’m not addicted”, “It’s just a little “, “I can quit anytime I want”, etc.
I keep reading over this story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 and it bothers me. Five of them brought oil – took personal responsibility, admitted the brutal facts of their oil-less reality, and prepared for a time when they’d really need oil. The other five figured they could get by on their friends or in some other way minimized their need for oil. I’m amazed
by Aarron Pina | Apr 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
Day Off… For Remembering.
This morning, we’re celebrating with mixed emotions. While away on our first family “vacation” in a few years, we received news that our friend, Elizabeth “Beth” (Morgan) Talton had not only been missing for a few days, but had been found, dead, in her car.
We know that Beth knew the Lord, but her last few weeks here were troubled. We don’t have all the details, but what we do know is that she is not suffering, struggling, wondering anymore – she is with her Savior. Right now, she is being remembered in funeral services at Free Chapel, where she was a member and growing in renewed passion for Christ.
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Please, pray for Beth’s children,
Brigham, Leilani, and Silas. |
We’re trained in grief… But, that doesn’t make us immune to it. It doesn’t change the fact that we have to experience all the levels of loss – anger, bargaining, denial, etc. For those left behind, especially Beth’s three children and ex-husband, it’s a much deeper and longer process. Rather than our normal “Monday Morning Momentum” post, I’m dedicating today to this precious family and all those around them who now have a hole in their lives that Beth used to fill.
We weren’t close to the rest of Beth’s family, but for now we know that the two oldest children will be cared for by their dad and baby Silas is with his grandparents for the time being.
This is not a fundraising post, but some of Beth’s friends have set up a site to help provide for her children and we do encourage anyone to participate as the need must be enormous. To help, go to http://www.gofundme.com/2kijgw.
in Christ,
AP
by Aarron Pina | Apr 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Purity vs. Virginity
It’s Probably Not What You Think
You may have heard this story. I sometimes refrain from sharing it because I don’t want to come off as bragging. But, when I do that, I miss the point. I hope you won’t miss the same point as I share it much more publicly. We “stayed” pure before we got married. But, it’s probably not what you think.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationships/virginity-not-point
by Aarron Pina | Apr 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
If the Lord doesn’t return before then, we’ll see you tomorrow for a postponed edition of “Monday Morning Momentum”.
in Christ,
AP
by Aarron Pina | Mar 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Sometimes, it’s hard to read the Bible. No, not because we don’t have time or because it’s hard to understand – the number of translations, bible apps and online tools out there have eliminated those excuses like a trailer park in a tornado. I mean sometimes, it’s like watching a car crash – you know it’s coming, you know it’s going to be bad, but you can’t do anything to stop it.
Take Jonah, for example. His job was easy – deliver a specific message to a specific people at a specific time. Oh, and God says “I want this in my inbox by Monday”. Jonah doesn’t just balk, he walks. God told him to leave Atlanta and head to NYC, but he hops a ride to Vegas – Jonah, what the dilly?! You know Jonah can’t outrun God, right?
I Hate Slasher Movies Because of the Dumb “Victims”
Do you stare at those pages like you do at the girl in the Friday the 13th movies who could have grabbed the gun but grabs the flashlight, could have run down the road, but hides under the bed and scream – “Nooooo! Jonah! Don’t go that way! He’s gonna get you!!!”
Jonah’s story turns when he sleeps with the fish. What’s it like to be catching some z’s on rough seas one minute, in a calm ocean the next, and moments later everything goes dark, warm, and slimy on you?
Let’s go further back – I’m reading about Moses and Pharaoh. “Moe” goes to his adoptive Dad, Pharaoh – “Pops, it ain’t right. You gotta lay off me and a million of my people and let us go.” But, God had already hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It’s not going to go well for him. But, still, don’t you kind of root for Pharaoh and yell at your bible – “Just humble yourself, Akhen-amon-ramses-guy! You’re out of your league. You can’t kill Superman with bullets! It’s a losing battle!!!”
Worse, look at Exodus 8:9. Bring a Frog to Work/School/Castle Day. Moses has been given chance number 3 to bow down before the one, true, living God and pray for his nation and instead of saying “Ok, son. You’ve never done me wrong and the blood from the Nile trick has stained all of our laundry. I’ll pray to your God right now, for repentance and some All-Temperature-Cheer.”
Instead… Car crash. After Moe gives him a chance to pick the time that he prays to God on Pharaoh’s behalf, Tuten-nuttin tells Moses something that brings us back to the Friday the 13th factor: “Tomorrow.”
What?! Wait ’til tomorrow?! Pharaoh – I don’t think you’re following the story. In my bible it says the frogs “will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed…” Really?! You’re that proud that you’d rather go home tonight and sleep in a bed of frogs, regroup, and hope that you get some inspiring dream that will make this go away your way instead of God’s way?!”
Pride. Is… Ugly.
But, heck, his linens were already Freddy Kruger red, what’s a little squished frog juice going to matter…
Sometimes, we get into places where our pride gets the best of us. It has us sleeping in dark, unfamiliar places with uncomfortable clutter all around us. I know. Last night my wife and I got into a… dispute… with each other and I failed miserably to not “let the sun go down on [my] anger”. Why? Pride. Just like Pharaoh. Just like Jonah. So, I slept with my junk and woke up feeling funk.
Great news:
Jonah was a prophet with a tough message to give to tough people. You’ll probably never be called into a country that routinely kills prophets and be commissioned by God to deliver a message they don’t want to hear. Pharaoh was under the heart hardening spirit put on him by the Creator of all that is seen and unseen – he didn’t stand a chance.
But, you and I do.
How sincerely can we walk today in humility and surrender to God, even when what He’s asking us to do seems like a no-win face-off with Jason Voorhees’s machete vs. us with a flashlight? How committed are we to the ministry of reconciliation and obedience to the God who has redeemed us?
If we are truly surrendered to the Father of Christ, we can at any moment dump our junk at the foot of the cross, leave our pride by the roadside, and refuse to sleep with the fish, with the frogs, with the funky junky heart.
Be Encouraged
This stuff isn’t in the bible so the kids will have something fun to color on Sundays while you’re at church. It’s there because God wants us to learn from greater people with greater missions than ours and because He… loves… us.
Much love,
AP
by Aarron Pina | Feb 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
NOTE (02.11.2013): The Seasons of Life Ministries website will be down for a few more days this week while we transfer everything over to WordPress. The blog will stay live, hopefully without any interruption, throughout the process. If you need anything that typically comes from our site – resources, pdfs, giving, “contact us”,”That Day” inquiry, etc., reach out via Facebook at on.fb.me/SEASONS.
Same Old Problem
Hate me if you want, but I’ve already bought my wife’s Valentine’s gift this year. Figuring out what to get is often the hardest part, isn’t it? Sourcing it can be a lot easier once the “big” decision has been made. Shopping on Amazon meant I didn’t pay shipping – I mean, who wants to pay shipping? Who wants to pay for anything, right? Can’t we just have the perfect inspiration weeks in advance and get what she wants for free?
Not a chance. Everything has a price – either now or in eternity. True? So, when I say “under $5”, I don’t mean these gifts won’t cost you anything, I mean there’s no money involved.
Really?
Just crack open your bible to 1 Corinthians 13.4. I know, you’re mad at me, because you think I’m pulling a fast one on you. Read on. Trust me for a moment, here. “Love is patient.” Stop. How’s that going for you right now? Now, I’m aware there are 15 more qualities of love that follow, but let’s just start with this one.
I’m not always patient. How about you? Why is it that we’re most impatient with the people closest to us? The easy answer is this: “they should know better not to get in the way of our agenda”. The harder answer is this: we’re never going to get over this hump (or whichever other of these 16 qualities) on our own. In fact, everything Paul talks about up to that point, even in the previous chapter, is an act of God via the Holy Spirit.
What the Self-Help Books Won’t Tell You:
“Try harder” is practically the mantra of the secular humanist movement. “Try different” is the second commandment of the same. But, what God has given us is something far more powerful, far more helpful, and far more lasting than mere “man up, get up, do it again”. The Holy Spirit has been given to us not only as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph. 1:14), but as a helper to walk with us (Greek: paraclete).
This Year, Give God a Try
Love is the first mentioned “fruit of the Spirit”. Implication – love can’t be “mustered”. It’s an act of the will, but it’s only present in its true, 1 Corinthians 13 form by… the… Spirit. So, what if everyday, we paused with our bible, played “tap the bible app”, or just got really silent and recited that verse, but with a hook – “Lord, grow me patient, grow me kinder, kill my boasting…” What if we did that with a long, silent pause in between each of the 16 qualities?
Do you know the voice of God? Do you know the convicting, yet not condemning sound of the Holy Spirit answering your question – “Where have I been impatient, unkind, boastful, etc.?” God doesn’t provide the Holy Spirit to crush us, but to come alongside us and lock arms with us as we walk through every challenging season of life.
What would the fruit of this labor look like? What do you think your love for your spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, co-workers, overbearing supervisor, or enemy look like if you spent just ten minutes bringing that question before the Lord and waited in silence for the answer? “Lord, where have I been ___?”
Give the gift of honesty before the Lord and repentance to those around you this year. It’ll cost you some time, deep introspection, reliance on the Lord, and less than $5 every time.
in Christ,
AP
