Rick Stump

I almost died today

I almost died this morning, is an understatement.  I pulled out of the coffee shop at 8 a.m.  Music blasting, windows up.  The light turned green and I went.  As I pulled into the intersection, I noticed something in my peripheral vision.  A tan Jeep Liberty was barreling thru the intersection at a very high speed while running a red light.  It was too late to break and my only option was to veer hard right.  It missed me by inches, maybe feet,…probably feet.  This story is starting to turn into legend and I have only told it twice.  I tend to do that with stories.

I think that there are differing degrees to almost dying.  I told my wife; “babe, you don’t even understand how much I almost died”.  It wasn’t gratifying telling her the story because she wasn’t there and really couldn’t feel what I felt, although she humored me.  I have a theory that I almost die a lot and just never know about it because God protects me.  Actually, I think we are always almost dead but God protects his own on a constant basis.  A few weeks ago, my brother was in a horse riding accident and really did almost die worse than me this morning.  He is in a rehabilitation hospital in Albany, New York and God is healing him everyday.  Thank you Lord!  Clearly Graham, my brother, almost died way worse than me.  So maybe there are differing degrees of almost dying but either way, there is an inseparable chasm between being dead and almost dying.

As I avoided the car and pulled thru the intersection in a state of sober shock, I thanked the Lord for protecting me.  It hit me that He has a plan for me today.  Life isn’t an accident and he didn’t protect me just because he had the urge.  He really has a purpose and a plan for my life today, otherwise, it would have been lights out for me there in that intersection.  Furthermore, God has not fulfilled his purpose in Graham’s life here on earth, or else the accident would have taken Graham from us.

I am going to try to make it through today by remembering and trying to completely fulfill God’s purposes for me, today.  God actually has a plan for you today as well. If he didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.  You will probably almost die a lot today.  Life and death is real and that’s just the way it is.  Some people will die today, and the rest will almost die today.  Time will tell.

Be grateful for another day, and fulfill God’s plan for your life.  I’m going to.

-Rick

for updates on Graham visit:

www.prayforgraham.com

Trusting

Lately God has been teaching me to trust him.  Trusting God is so easy when things are good, but when tragedy enters your life, the stakes get so much higher.  I remember when Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “would you leave me too”.  Peter answered, “Lord, where would we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”  That’s my answer too.  ”Lord, you know I won’t leave you.  No matter what.  You are all I have.”  This is where the trust comes in.  Standing firm, but not having any clue what the outcome will be.  You just have to rest while knowing and trusting that God is in control.

And he is good.

Back to Jesus

I’m coming back to the teachings and stories of Jesus. I think that sometimes I have gotten caught up in dogma and tradition and have missed the depth and power and “basics”. Jesus was deep. Really deep. I’ve been taught and have been studying the bible my whole life, and am beginning to realize that there is a world going on behind the commentaries and concordances that I missed. Things like, where is the geographical location of heaven? Explain this one:

1″Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Opinions

After reading this really long status update war that was unfolding on Facebook, I have come to a conclusion. I think people in general, don’t know what they are talking about, me included. We say stuff a lot and like to talk and here ourselves talk, and watch other people here us talk, but nothing is ever fact. So, I have outlined a list of tip-off words below that will forewarn you in any conversation that you are about to here an opinion:

1. “they say that…”
2. “besides, every knows that…”
3. “why don’t they just…”
4. “Did you here that…”
5. “They always…”
6. “It’s the same with the…”

I have decided that I am going to try and get better at not having my own opinions about stuff. Or at least not voicing them, but maybe even not having them at all. I think I’m gona try being more concerned with facts and less concerned with my views. Better yet, more concerned with individual people and less with any views. If I want to be heard, I will open Garageband, click on preferences, make sure that internal microphone is active, and record myself telling myself all of the unverifiable opinions that I can think about a certain subject. I will then burn this to a CDr and put it in my car and listen to me as I drive, like I do with demos and stuff. I will think that I am really smart and will probably even argue with myself about what I am saying. Regardless, I will spare those around me from having to hear me talk about stuff that I don’t really have a grasp on anyway. Opinions look like onions and onions give me heartburn and opinions make peoples breath smell.

hold me to it…