The ReeseSource - January 2011

Well, I have done it now! I am committed. I just got off the phone with my new doctor to schedule my not-so-annual physical. And so it begins. I have about a month to get into good shape in order to undo all the prior months of physical abuse I have inflicted on my sixty-five year old body. I am doing all this to get a glowing report on my physical from him. It is kind of like cleaning the house before the maid comes!

So what if my pants are a little tight right now, I can drop ten or fifteen pounds in a month…not! Why do I do this to myself year-after-year? I know better. The reason is that I love to eat and not fond of repetitive exercising. The best exercise I can stand is the elliptical trainer at the gym. I can tolerate that only because it has a TV on it and I can zone out. I would rather have intestinal flu than run. I did that for years and all I got was a new hip and a bad back.

What is it about us that we do the things we ought not to do? Also, we don’t do the things we should do. What’s up with that? For me, I am sorry to say, I think it is laziness, apathy, and pure disobedience. In short, it is sin. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, right?
That is what the Bible says. Shouldn’t we take care of it? Aren’t we called to be good stewards of what God has given us?

“What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. 16 So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for me and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary. 17 But
I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! 18 I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. 19 I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. 20 My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. 21 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly delight in God's commands, 23 but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. 24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. “ (Paul’s Letter to the Christians in Rome Chapter 7:15-25)

Wow! The Apostle Paul struggled with stuff just as I do. But Paul knew the secret and is communicating it to us. God’s spirit dwells in us to empower us to do the right thing. Left to our own devices, we probably will end up choosing the wrong path. I think our choices depend on how much we honestly believe what the Bible says.

Many of you have heard me answer to people who say, “Id love to do this or that, but…”
To which I reply, “No, you don’t. If you really wanted to, you would do it. We pretty much do what we want to do.”

Bottom Line: I am asking God to give me the strength to do the right thing in the next minute, the next hour, the next day. I am not thinking a month in advance and what I have to do to get in better shape. I am focusing on today... what I eat for lunch, whether or not I go to the gym again this afternoon, what I eat for dinner tonight. That is all I can handle, by God’s grace. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Just Do It!

MINISTRY NEWS:

THE FRIDAY MORNING GROUP AND SPOUSES SERVED BREAKFAST ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 29TH TO MEN AT THE EXTENSION, A MEN’S CHRISTIAN RESIDENTIAL RECOVERY PROGRAM HERE IN MARIETTA.

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF EXTENSIVE PREPARATION FOR THE FIRST ANNUAL NET WORK MINISTRIES GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD MAY 6TH AT MARIETTA COUNTRY CLUB. CALL BUCK AT 678-986-4814 TO SIGN UP. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 60 GOLFERS.

LET US KNOW IF YOUR BUSINESS OR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPONSOR. CALL MARSHALL DYE AT 770-560-9181 FOR DETAILS.

PLANS ARE BEING MADE FOR A MEN’S GOLF RETREAT TO FRIPP ISLAND MARCH 31ST TO APRIL 3RD. SPACE IS LIMITED. INTERESTED? CALL BUCK AT 678-986-4814