Good for Evil?

I was watching Iron Man tonight and as I was nearing the end of the movie, it occurred to me that one of the main undertones to the movie is the idea of things made for good that are used for evil. There are many things that occur in this world today that were designed for good and have been used in hurtful or disrespectful ways. I could go into tons of specifics but let us take a quick look at a few things that have turned out as predominantly bad things. God designed sex for example and today it has been turned into a multi-billion dollar industry for entertainment and self-satisfaction. Next we could look at the value of language and how important it is for us to communicate but some people have littered it with suggestive and vile subjects or words and it leads to people tuning out some important information because it is not being delivered in the most appropriate way. Movies and video games were designed to keep people busy but now it just takes the place of other activities and leads to students being more focused on the next accomplishment they will make in a game or they will watch movies whenever they get the chance because they want to see the movie that everyone is talking about. Any way you look at it, there are many things that have been made for the common good and have been used in the wrong way. Cameras, phones, dances, weapons, sports, the list goes on and on. Maybe I am being too overprotective but when I look at the reason I do things and the main reason why something was created for me, I tend to find that there are plenty of things that I do for the wrong reasons. This is not because I prefer to do things this way, rather I feel like my perception of these things has just been manipulated by the way the world views it or I just have not recognized it any other way. God created all things for a purpose and he wants to carry all of those things out to completion in the way that he intended them and I believe it is our duty to ensure that our actions maintain their integrity along with the actual activity itself.

When the angels were all in heaven, they were all designed for good but then Lucifer decided that he was power hungry and he fell away, it is a reoccurring theme throughout history and I think that the trend is just natural. I also believe that there is a possibility in which we can change this pattern by making changes in our own lives to reflect the true reason why we do certain things. Paul comments in 1st Corinthians 6:12, " 'Everything is permissible for me' -- but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' -- but I will not be mastered by anything." When we let things get out of hand and master us, then the result of the things we do can lead to what is evil. Sometimes we feel like we are doing things for the right reasons but our justification does not line up with what is biblical and we are not always looking at the bigger picture. When we step back and enter into spiritual guidance, then we will begin to grow and move in ways we could have never imagined. Our lives become more enjoyable because we know that everything we do is anointed and will benefit someone down the road. I am sick of things being temporary results because it never gets me anywhere and it leads to more stress in my life then if I had just ignored what I wanted to do. I put myself in situations that drag me into the ground and then I have to constantly dig myself out. I wish I could stay afloat and let God keep me from falling in that hole because the little bumps do not have such as great of an effect on me. I know that with time these things will change and the more knowledge I gain, the easier it will be. Until then, just keep praying for me that I can overcome and use the good things for what they were intended for and that I will stand up when something is being used in the wrong way.

I will keep praying for all of you. Hope you are all doing well, God is continuing to do great things across this nation so do not stop praying for his touch on the lives of everyone here.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson

Fighting

This past week was one of the best experiences of my life and I could not be more grateful for what God provided the NCU baseball team as we spent our time at the national tournament in Mason, Ohio. Our service project was simple but perfect in that all we did was make care packages of essentials for people who live in underprivileged countries. These are also used when there is a disaster area foreign or domestic because they provide people with basic hygienic supplies and keep them fresh for the rough day(s) they face ahead of them. The atmosphere at the tournament was truly electric and even though it was baseball, you could feel the presence of God there. I know they will probably never see this but the work of the employees at PRASCO is absolutely amazing in that they served us as we played on their facilities! They were awesome hosts and I really hope that we get to go back next year. The music definitely set the mood with ALL Christian music and even some upbeat worship music. We were constantly reminded of the fact that God brought us together to serve and use our talents for HIS glory and it was most certainly refreshing. I still struggle and make mistakes but I am continuing to get stronger, I just hate missteps, I feel like I am just wasting good opportunities and all my hard work when I screw up. I try everyday but I am just on the brink of taking off completely in the right direction. I feel like I have been here for quite some time now as I feel like I write about it a lot and I guess it is a little discouraging. I know Satan is battling me and I do not want to give in but it is such a tough fight and sometimes I just give up. I know this does not sound like me at all but my spiritual battles are so much different from my worldly or physical battles. I just get so tried of the same stuff all the time because no matter how hard I try, I am never able to get some things out of my head. I left some unfinished business on the altar 3 weeks ago and I feel like I need to do that again because it was an eye opening and refreshing experience that I know truly helped.

My life is filled of mistakes and there are times I feel like they are not even mistakes because I know what I am getting myself into. Call it foolishness or call it being stupid, either way, it needs to change because with certain patterns in my life, God can only do so much for me and through me. I want to continue to pursue him with everything that I am in every aspect of my life. I know I have some areas covered because he has blessed me and is working in them, but I know there is work to do elsewhere and I am sick of being stuck!!!! I know there is a way out and I can stand up under it, I just need to give some things to God like I did 3 weeks ago and then I will be able to move on and break these habits that have formed over the last few years and even from my childhood. He is the healer and provider and I cannot thank him more for all of that. Without him, I am definitely not an All-American, but I am really just a reject who has no place in this world. I have earned nothing, I have been given everything from him and sometimes I guess I am a little too humble if there is such a thing but I want to be confident in what he has given me and when I am confident then I can really do the work that he wants me to do. 1 John 2:28 states, "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming." I will tell you that if he came back today, I would be going to heaven but I would still be ashamed of myself because I have done some hurtful things to him and until we ask forgiveness and repent from our ways, we will always be ashamed of the things that have taken place in this world. I am ready Lord, use me as you will and speak to me over the next 3 months that I might be changed from who I was at the beginning of last year and most definitely from this moment. I want to be a leader for you and I pray that you will speak to me and allow me to be such a person.

I hope you are all doing well, I am settling in but should be able to post regularly so stay up to date if at all possible. Continue to stay in his word and pray/meditate on him.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson