Ever Been Mad at God?

Alright friends, as you can see, I have already posed the question; Ever been mad at God?  Well, I have and I know some of you are thinking, oh boy he's playing with fire.  Look at it like this, their are no perfect relationships. ( If you think their are than I've got some ocean front property for sale in Arizona: George Strait reference for my wife.)  Anyway what is the one thing God wants from us most.  That's right, a relationship with him.  It's not going to be smooth and their will be some rough patches.  I know he will be with me in the valley.  But honestly,  how long is this valley?   This is the thing, I (with God's Help) beat cancer 2 years ago.  I am so grateful to still be alive, but you see it's not the cancer that usually comes back to kill you, it's the Graph vs. Host disease.  I've got GVHD in my lungs and now my liver.  I know some of you are thinking would you like some cheese and crackers with your whining.  I like to think I don't complain a lot but sometimes you just have to get things off your chest.

It's not only hard on me but it's hard on Kelli and Morgan.  I just want to be normal again.  I know you are probably saying, well he should just be happy to have this time with them.  I am happy for this time but I want more with them. I want to coach Morgan's soccer team and I want to look at my wife and know that somewhere in the back of her mind she's not waiting for the other shoe to drop. I just want to be normal.  Why is my family going through this, and listen I know everybody is going through something, I just get a chance to blog it.

So we get mad at God, and we ask Why?  Then what,  Do we wait?  Do we stop talking to him and ignoring him? (like most relationships)  Maybe we go back for more.  Somebody told me once that our society likes to microwave but God likes to bake things in his own time.  Guess what, I'm an impatient person.  Who knows maybe its God's way of being funny,

You see the way I figure it, I'm going to dissappoint God from time to to time and he's going to make me angry from time to time. That's how a relationship works, but we don't give up on each other, we stick together and work things out. I know he has everything under control but if he could send me down a little GPS system to know where he's taking me and my family, I would really appreciate it.

It is a little past 11 o'clock and our church, Faith Community Church, is finishing up it's first day of our 40 day fast. I must admit the 40 day fast can be a tough one for me sometimes. Let's be honest, I'm sure it's tough for a lot of us depending on what it is you are going to fast. Notice I titled this blog, "What's Not on the Menu". It doesn't mean you have to fast some sort of food or beverage but for most of us that is what we'll choose. You see Kelli and I are fasting soda, while Morgan is fasting chocolate. Some people will fast one whole meal for a day such as breakfast or lunch or their are some who fast things like the computer or maybe even a hobby they are really in to. Whatever it was you decided to fast, I hope it was a sacrifice for you (not trying to sound judgemental).

I don't have to say this because most of you know it anyway but God paid the the ultimate sacrifice when he sent his only begotten son to die on a cross for us. Do we ever really stop and think about that enough. I complain about giving up some Diet Coke. I mean really? Don't get me wrong when you make it to the end of a fast you should feel some sense of accomplishment. You just did a great thing to honor God. Did we sacrifice though?

You see it seems like we live in a society where we can't go without anything for any extended period of time. For example, as we discussed what we were going to fast, Morgan had some ideas.

She said,
Daddy why don't you give up your cell phone in which I responded, Well that's the only
way people can get a hold of me, especially if there was an emergency. She then asked Kelli,
Why don't you give up the computer (insert picture of me laughing hysterically there) and Kelli
said well I use the computer for different things like paying bills, checking bank statements,
and church work, like editing photos and youth group stuff. Did we sacrifice? Maybe.
Was it enough? I don't know. (However if you ask Morgan, I'm sure she will say yes).

Fasting is personal and should be between you and God. It shouldn't be a prideful thing. It

should be a God thing. Here's another quick thought, we get so excited for the 40 day fast
but what do we do when those 40 days are up? Do we have a closer relationship with God
now or did I just give my kidney's a 40 day break from soda. Here's my last thought and
then I'm signing off. If you are allergic to peanuts, don't fast peanut butter and jelly

sandwiches.



March Madness

Well March Madness is here and for the Robinette family it means, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" (insert holiday music there).   Anyway I've been watching all of these basketball games and a thought came to me last night.  No, I am not going to talk about how much louder we cheer at ballgames for our favorite teams than we do at church when it comes to praising our God.  I thought I would put a new little spin on it.

As I'm watching the games they start telling the ages of these young men and how young they are.  Then the announcers are quick to point out their inexperiences and the mistakes they are making.  Now most of these guys have played basketball all their lives, but never on big stages like this.  There's a lot more people watching and with that comes a lot more responsibility.  You have to have someone in your corner who you can depend on.  Someone to give you advice.  You need someone whose been in these types of situations before.  You need a coach.

Now let's think about somebody who has just been saved or who has rededicated their life to the Lord.  Let's be honest when the Pastor first asks you to raise your hand or please step forward, there's some presuure there.  You are now a new person through Jesus Christ.  You are a young Christian full of inexperiences and you will make mistakes (We all Do).  For some reason, Christians are put on a bigger stage and just like those basketball announcers,  people will be more quickly to point out your flaws and wrong doings than ever before.  You will need someone in your corner, someone to give you advice, someone whose been through it before.  You need a coach.

I think too often that as Christians we see someone get saved and we say Praise the Lord and rightfully so.  I also think that unless we may know these particular people we don't worry about where their coaching is coming from.  (I'm sure that might offend some and you're thinking, well you're the youth pastor isn't that your job).  You might be right, but I'll also throw the first stone at myself.

I guess what I am trying to say is that, all of us who proclaim to be Christians need to think about coaching some of these new inexperienced, gonna make mistakes and doubt themselves new converts before Satan figures out a game plan to win them back.  Look at these 4 scriptures:

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance (coaching)  Prov. 1:5

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice (coaching)  Prov. 12:15

Plans fail for lack of counsel (coaching), but with many advisers they succeed.  Prov. 15:22

Listen to advice and accept instruction (coaching), and in the end you will be wise.  Prov.19:20

Gotta go the Basketball games are starting.

J Rob's Thoughts: A Little Rock........and The Holy Spirit

J Rob's Thoughts: A Little Rock........and The Holy Spirit: "I'm sure as Christians that most of us have had heard the saying, 'faith as small as a mustard seed' and I truly believe in that. Howe..."

Not Much to Say....But Give Me Time

This is my first post, so I don't have much to say at this particular time.  Give me a little time and I'm sure I'll blog about something that has you talking.  Who knows I might blog about something that makes you go Hmmm (That's an old school saying from back in my day).  Anyway I'm serving as the youth pastor at Faith Community Church along with my wife Kelli, so a lot of my thoughts will center around my journey with Christ.  However you may catch me from time to time talking about anything from sports, to politics, or even entertainment.   As I said before this is my first time blogging but I think it will be good for me.   I went through a  bone marrow transplant last year due to leukemia and I believe this may be a good way to get things off my chest and clear my mind.  You see I know God has a plan for me and my family and until we know exactly what that plan is, we are just going to enjoy the ride.