Arrogance

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year! I believe it will be a fantastic one. I thought, before I lay on you what I've been reminded of and thinking about, I would recap this last year!

So, first of all - this year has been one of changes. I feel like I've grown so much and yet, there is so much more I have to learn. I want to know God more and I am realizing how much He has blessed me and called me for.

This year, I started dating a beautiful woman and just like that, I knew. I knew why she was in my life, I knew what we were meant for, and I knew I loved her. I had never felt this way about another person before - and my life changed. I am smiling because it is so beautiful what God has done. So, after 6 months of dating, I asked her to be my wife! And she said yes. A year ago, I was only thinking about her, and not much for that matter, and now I'm going to be her husband! Wow. My breath is taken away.

Another change that happened this year was a big purchase. I already told you about the ring that I bought, but I also purchased a home for my bride and I. We close next month and I'm very excited for all the memories we will make in this home.

Along with that purchase, I also started seminary and am pursuing, albeit very slowly, the plan God has placed on my heart in ministry.

This, and so much more, has happened in this year. There have been so many memories that have been made and that will be cherished throughout my life. God is so good and I have been so very blessed.

Thanks for working with me through that! Okay, onto the good stuff! :)

Last night, my fiancé and I were watching P.S. I Love You and a line just stopped me. I'd seen the film previously, but this time something resonated with me very deeply. The title of this post has come from the thoughts that stem. In the scene, Harry Connick, Jr. and Hilary Swank are on their first date. They stop for a corned beef sandwich by a memorial to the Irish. In the moment, Hilary Swank looks over and sees and old couple and says, "Now, that is an honest to goodness couple." She adds a little more. Then Harry Connick, Jr. rebuts "We're so arrogant. We try all these things to stay young and we take for granted the privilege it is to grow old - and with someone, who doesn't make you want to commit murder or something."

It's a cute moment in the film, and provides for a good laugh. The line that struck me most was, "We're so arrogant." I was blown away by the profundity of this little statement. We are so arrogant. Human beings have this inept ability to choose themselves over any other. We take so many simple blessings for granted.

In the film, Harry Connick, Jr. speaks to our attitude toward aging, and this is a good thing to consider. In America, we are taught how to provide for ourselves. We are delight to do things on our own. We have a very self-focused and selfish way of life. None of us are immune. I think it stuck so well with me, because I'm so guilty of living like this.

As a Christian, I am called to be a part of a community. I am called to build up the body of believers through encouragement and to share the word of Christ with all. I am to make disciples. Yet, often, I REALLY DO think, "What's in it for me?" How arrogant I am. I spit in the Maker's face with the way I want things done, and do not follow after how He has designed them. I'm afraid I'm not the only one who thinks like this. And I work in ministry.

I continued to think about this attitude and I began to notice how prevalent it is in America (in general) and in the American Church. The one place I noticed it the most, however, is the area of homosexuality. I do not normally discuss this topic, because I have my opinions, but as I am discoursing on my own sin, I need to call out sin. Sin is sin before God's eyes. We have NO excuse. Absolutely none. And if we claim to know Jesus Christ, we are called to conform to His image - His holy, perfect image and to turn from our sin and walk in a new life. I'm not saying this is easy, because the Lord knows how I struggle with sin. I am not writing this to condemn the sinner, but the sin. There must be an end to tolerance.

As I was writing, the arrogance we all have deals with our attitude that we're right and God designed it wrong. Now, the Bible is very clear that the act of homosexuality is an abomination. It IS sexual sin, which takes different forms for all kinds of people. This is not the way we were designed by God. We were made man for woman and woman for man! This is His grand design - we cannot change this! Scripture must be looked at completely, not in pieces. No one piece is meant to be exalted over the other. They are all God - breathed, and useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting so that we may be throughly equipped. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ longs for us to love Him in return. And He longs for us to be free from stain, free to Him, and beautiful in His sight.

This comes through repentance. And that is why I write this. I write so that we would repent and turn back to our first love. I want to be like Him. I want the church to be like Him. I want us to step away from our arrogance. We are not right. We are sinners and we need redemption from our sin. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. The Holy Spirit will change you.

I want 2011 to be a year to remember and I long for us all to seek after God with a new heart and a new mind. Jesus is working for our benefit, interceding so that we will be free! Turn now, and choose to live for His glory.

I leave with a verse I have chosen to be my theme for 2011. I pray that it will benefit you as well.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

Love you all.

Brandon