I don't know what I'm doing

Two weeks ago, I replaced a receptacle in the bathroom. No big deal. I have replaced receptacles and switches before. But this one was a little different. It had a built in breaker and was hooked up to the other bathroom plug. Quickly I popped the old plate off, pulled out the old plug and began installing the new plug. What I didn't do was study the old wiring system, or...God forbid, read the directions.

Well, two weekends and at least 50 attempts later, I got it working...or so I thought. Excitedly after showing my wife that it was finally working, I went on my merry way. Last night she said gently and meekly, "honey, thank you so much for fixing the plug, but I wanted you to know that the plug in our bathroom still doesn't work.

I will leave a space for your guess as to what went thru my mind, "_______". I was not, "Praise God, another opportunity to save and spend more time on something that I thought was finished."

I have found in my life that when I don't know what I am doing, the best thing to do is to ask for help. I have also found that, for numerous reasons, I seldom do.

Also, I honestly believe that when I try to go it alone, God opposes me. He makes things fall apart, harder and he pulls the rug out from under me. To me mean? Not at all. To be loving and to protect me from...me!

From the very start, God said that it is not good that we are alone (Gen 2:18)
He said that Moses could not handle his responsibilities alone (Exodus 18:18)
Moses came to this realization himself (Numbers 11:14)
When did David get into trouble, when he was alone on that roof top (2 Samuel 11:1)
We all fall, but the one who is alone is in greatest trouble (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

You get the point. There is only one "alone" that is good:

Deuteronomy 6:4 "The Lord is our God, the Lord alone".

Lack of Leadership

Judges 18 and judges 19 both start with the same phrase, "In those days, when there was no king in Israel..." After that, the passage goes on to talk about some grievous sin that is committed by multiple people.

There is a simple message here. God wants us to have leadership. Now the Lord did not give Israel a leader because he want them each to follow him. As a matter of fact, when god finally appointed Saul as king over Israel, it was because the people called for it, not because God called for it. But he also did not install a leader because he wanted to teach us something.

We need leadership. And we need community. Grace Community Church has a great message on this on their website (gracecommunity.org). But we need a leader who will follow Scripture and help us apply the gospel. This leader needs to be surrounded by other godly men to hold him accountable, much as David was surrounded by Nathan and other prophets.

We need "one another..."

Sunday's Prayer

Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home,
may my life be steeped in prayer,
filled with the spirit of grace and supplication,
each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood.

Help me, defend me, until from praying ground
I pass to the realm of unceasing praise.

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises,
called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence,
worshipping Thee with godly fear,
awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory,
but encouraged by Thy love.

Book Review – A Banquet in the Grave by Edward T. Welch

Dr. Welch is a member of the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA and part of the staff of CCEF. As a result, I expected to get a full helping of heart targeted counsel on addictions and sin. I was not disappointed. This is a must read for those who have addictions, love someone with addictions are is counseling someone with addictions. Beyond that is was helpful to me personally as I thought about the besetting sins with which I struggle.
Each chapter ended with a page on two entitled Practical Theology with questions listed under “As You Face Your Own Addictions” and “As You Help Someone Else”. These questions were exceptionally helpful and forced me to think in a more complete way. As Welch says, “Better yet, accurate theology is a kind of treasure map: it guides us and compels us to relentlessly search scripture for more and more relevant, penetrating, enlightening, life-changing truth.”
Here is my regret about the book. As can be expected, Welch does not hold AA in the highest esteem. I understand and agree. He points out that AA, by avoiding themes like sin and salvation to include a greater audience, it also left out the theology that is foundational to Christ-centered change. My concern is that Welch left out that unknown element that makes one addicted to alcohol, or drawn to child pornography, while another is not. There is a something else there, be it chemical, emotional or psychological that I wrestle with as I minister to and love an addict.
Thanks Mike for the recommendation. Well worth the read.