Delay, Dead-Ends and Difficulties- Oh My!

Posted by Eddie James on December 2, 2007

What a weekend. Tom and I started out in Minneapolis with a stop-over in Canada for a weekend full of fun being "Skit Guys". Saturday the snow started to come down. It was a WINTER WONDERLAND. So beautiful. Just took it all in. Snow covering everything is just calming to me for some reason.

Then i started to think about what this meant getting out of Minneapolis to get to Canada for a Youth Specialties Conference. Now the snow didn't seem so pretty anymore. My mind started FAST FORWARDING the tape trying to see what this weekend could look like. Usually the experience has been delays in airports, dead-ends in destinations and difficult decisions to make along the way.

I am sitting kind of on the other side of everything right now. We didn't make it to Canada because of even more DELAYS! BUT Tommy got home and that's cool. I'm still in Chicago watching the rain come down. Chicago can be a scary airport to have these type of weather delays but what can you do?

What did i do? Well, i've learned to just "in-joy" these times. I know it sounds kind of corny but the delays, DIFFICULTIES and dead-ends seem to be a part of ones' life at some point. I don't reject it anymore or try to sweep it under the rug. Just embrace it, go through it and wait to get to the other side.

When life gives us "snow storms"- can we stop in the midst of the "delays" and count ourselves blessed? Can we thank God for the "Dead-Ends" that didn't turn out to be much of what we wanted but produced much CHARACTER?

In the book, "The Road Less Traveled", Peck gives a great word: "AWARENESS is half the battle". That has really stuck with me over the years. I'm aware right now I'm stuck in Chicago O'Hare Airport. There's not a lot I can do about it. So, what do i do in the midst of the sticky situation? I try to think through and be aware of the delays, difficulties and dead-ends that have come my way. I end up being extremely thankful. Extremely thankful to my God who loves me so much to discipline this wary child.

I should truly be living in a van down by the river working at the Piggly Wiggly asking people, "paper or plastic"? I don't deserve to be a "skit guy". I don't deserve the places I've gotten to go and things I've gotten to do. I know me. I know my difficulties. I know the delays that i've caused in my own world. I've seen the devastation of DEAD-ENDS that i've put upon myself or life handing a cruel blow.

So I watch the rain come down and wonder if there will be more delays to come in getting home to my wife and beautiful girls. Will there be deliverance? Will there be a homecoming? I sure hope so. Isn't that the best time when you go through the painful delays, bone crushing difficulties and sorrowful dead-ends? Somewhere down the road you discover the DELiVERANCE! It's there- God is there. We just have to become more AWARE.

Next time the world gives you a storm and you are stuck in a delay- sit and be still and realize He is GOD. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID....

Comments

Concerned Kevin December 29, 2007 at 3:45 a.m.

I was watching your "Almost Live DVD" or whatever the name is and you said that the "real way" to evangelize was to say "God loves you and has a great plan for your life" instead of using heaven and hell. That is true, God does have great plans for each of us, but let me tell you that teaching a "man-centered" gospel instead of "Christ and Him Crucified" (1 Cor 2:2) and talking about the serious problem about being unforgiven on judgment day is what needs to be preached. It needs to be preached that we have all broken the 10 Commandments and without repenting and trusting in Jesus Christ to save us (and not just say a prayer) we are graciously saved.

Telling someone that God has a plan for them is no way to get them to repent and trust Jesus--the only way to heaven. People may think that they already have a great plan and that they don't need God. Out of love we need to tell them the truth (1 Cor 13:6) that people are bound for hell without the free gift of salvation that our loving God offers.

I pray that you guys would focus more on biblical principles with the tremendous power and influence God has given you to win over young people for Jesus Christ
.
Thanks for taking time to hear me, and God Bless

I suggest that you look into Ray Comfort's "Hells Best Kept Secret" at www.wayofthemaster.com/audiolessons.shtm... to learn more and learn how to truly reach the lost.

Katie (of McKinney) December 30, 2007 at 6:18 a.m.

I have to disagree with "concerned kevin" on that one. Kevin if you've ever watched their skit called "The Birdcage" then you know that they aren't side-stepping the reality of judgement day but that tommy and eddie are showing people how to reach out to others in love, not judgement. That's the whole premise behind telling others first that "God loves them and has a great plan for their life". People are more apt. to listen to what you have to say when you relate to them on a "needs"-based level. Conviction of their sins and the desire to repent will come after they open themselves up to the love of Christ. By reaching out "in love" we're not watering down the gospel. We are however providing them with a sense of hope of living a full life with God despite their deserved judgement for their sin.

Tommy and Eddie keep up the good work. God is using y'all to impact people across the country and now the world (Australia).

Eddie- glad the snow was temporarily relaxing.

Vera Thornton November 16, 2008 at 12:54 a.m.

Corey Sweeney November 17, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Frances Monroe November 20, 2008 at 4:02 a.m.

Carlene Kemp November 20, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.

Marietta Woodard November 21, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.

Damon Crawford November 22, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

Deana Barnes November 23, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.

Carmine Mercado November 23, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.